Palestine is coming. Israel are we ready?
I predict President Trump is going to release a Middle East peace plan to bring about the state of Palestine this year. Its coming. My best bet would be late summer/early fall before the Israeli Elections and the Mid-Term Elections in the U.S.
He has referred to this as the ultimate deal. He wants to be the ultimate deal maker. He would love to stick to all the previous presidents and leaders around the world that tried and failed over the years.
If you have been paying attention to his Gaza plan, it’s in there about steps to Palestinian self-determination. He has brought in Turkey and Pakistan to be included in his Gaza Peace plan and currently Pakistan is brokering the U.S./Iran peace negotiations. He wants quiet in Lebanon. He wants Syria to be a part of the world. He loves the Egyptian president.
What has been missing from all of this: Trump mentioning Abbas or the Palestinians in the West Bank. Nothing. No statements, no compliments, no insults. Just quiet. Also, the reverse, other than Abbas supporting Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan and reaching out to prevent Israeli annexation of the West Bank, nothing. It’s admission by omission, in my opinion. While we have been distracted by Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, I wouldn’t be surprised if during this time, secret negotiations have been occurring.
Trump is smart. He has been removing barriers to the peace deal. In his previous term, he recognized the Golan Heights being part of Israel. He moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. Trump is slowly trying to remove all the barriers. Hamas and Gaza, Hezbollah and Lebanon, Syria, even Iran and the attacks on the Nuclear facilities. Any peace plan Trump brings up between Israel and the Palestinians to create the state of Palestine in the West Bank will have the support of Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, Saudia Arabia, etc… He will have the support of the entire world including both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S., Russia, China, the UK, the EU, the UN, etc… Which country would dare to publicly provide opposition to Trumps plan?
The three biggest barriers that Trump will still need to remove are Jerusalem, the Palestinian refugees, the Gaza/West Bank connection and the Israeli Settlements.
In Trump’s previous peace plan back in 2020, Jerusalem was the capital of Israel with neighbouring towns on the outskirts of Jerusalem in the West Bank becoming the capital of Palestine. He removed the refugee issue as well. In that plan, no right of return of Palestinian refugees into Israel.
Regarding Gaza, there won’t be a land connection between Gaza and the West Bank. Gaza will probably still be part of Palestine. This will be determined based on the Gaza Peace Plan.
The Israeli settlements is where I would expect the biggest change from 2020 to a new peace plan occurring. Trump learned his lesson from when Netanyahu embarrassed him at the press conference when he said Israel can annex the Jordan Valley and Settlements. That wasn’t true, and immediately the Trump administration put out a statement regarding that. Also, that last plan wasn’t logical with the enclave settlements and bypass roads that would need to be built.
I think Trump will make things very simple this time around. The big three settlement Blocs, Maale Adumim, Gush Etzion and Ariel, will be annexed into the state of Israel. Trump may even sweeten the deal by saying once Israel agrees to the plan, they are free to annex these settlement blocs with world support regardless of what the Palestinians say or do.
The rest will remain in the state of Palestine. They will be Israeli Citizens living in the State of Palestine. They will pay Israeli Taxes, be able to vote in Israeli Elections, won’t have to evacuate their homes. In return, the Arabs who currently live in Israel, will be able to decide if they want Israeli or Palestinian citizenship. There may be some kind of incentive plan for anyone who wants to move to the other country.
This would also be a country with true borders. I don’t think Trump will agree to Israel controlling the Jordan Valley. He needs to give something to the Palestinians to accept this plan.
As for Israel, Trump would make sure there are no more threats of boycotts and Israel will have trade deals with many countries around the world. Maybe Trump can work on the U.N. and make Israel a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Under Netanyahu, Israel has put all its eggs in the Trump basket. As Vice President Vance recently said, Israel has no other powerful ally other than the U.S. Israel no longer has the support of the Democratic Party and is starting to lose some of its support with the Republican Party as well. If we lose Trump, then what?
After Trump releases his plan we will see the usual whining and statements from Israeli government officials. Imagine the scenario where Trump says to Israel, either you get on board and agree to this plan or the U.S. is done with you. No longer supporting, no longer giving weapons and most importantly, no longer helping to defend us. Are we prepared to get between Trump and his Nobel Peace Prize and go it alone?
Palestine is coming. Israel are we ready?