Donald Trump has launched his “ultimate deal” for Middle East peace, saying the detailed 80-page proposalwould be a “realistic two-state solution” that had already been agreed to by Israel as the basis for talks.
“Today, Israel takes a big step towards peace,” Trump said in a joint press conference with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at the White House. “I was not elected to do small things or shy away from big problems,” he added, in a speech supported by cheers and applause from the audience.
In a series of sometimes contradictory statements, Trump said the plan would:
- Establish Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided” capital, but with a potential Palestinian capital in eastern sections of the city.
- Recognise Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territory as part of the country.
- Offer the future possibility for a Palestinian statehood that would “more that double Palestinian territory”, without specifying what territory he was referring to.
- Lead to “1m” new jobs for Palestinians and triple its GDP.
In his comments, Netanyahu went further, saying Trump’s plan recognised Israeli sovereignty over other large areas of Palestinian territory and would seek to fully disarm the militant group Hamas.
“It’s a great plan for Israel, it’s a great plan for peace,” he said. Critically, Netanyahu said the “status quo” of Israeli control over the Palestinian territories would remain in place until a deal was reach, which he anticipated would take years.
He added to Trump: “You have been the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House.”
Palestinians leaders, however, were absent from the launch. They have long dismissed Trump as being biased against them, and pre-emptively rejected his proposal.
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