Palestinian residents of the occupied West Bank city of Hebron have disavowed a proposal by five purported local „sheikhs“ to sever ties with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and establish an „emirate of Hebron“ which would recognise the state of Israel.
Archiv: Trump-Netanyahu Palestine annexion plan election year 2020
Legacy of South African Bantustans hangs over Trump deal
(February 9, 2020)
South Africa‘s Bantustans were designed to weaken and fragment the black population. Under Trump‘s plan, Palestine could face a similar fate.
A New Palestinian Offer for Peace With Israel
Hebron’s sheikhs propose to leave the Palestinian Authority and join the Abraham Accords.
‘F— him’: Trump slammed Netanyahu in interview and said the Israeli prime minister ‘did not want to make peace’
(10.12.2021)
Trump also told Ravid that “Bibi did not want to make peace,” using Netanyahu’s nickname. “Never did.”
Ravid only published excerpts of his interview on Axios on Thursday, and it’s not clear from them what Trump is referring to in the “peace” comments.
Netanyahu Used Doctored Video of Abbas to Influence Trump‘s Policy, Woodward Reveals
The incident occurred on May 22, 2017, at a time when Trump was beginning to have doubts about Netanyahu and wondering aloud if the Israeli prime minister might be the real obstacle to peace with the Palestinians, Woodward wrote, according to excerpts from the book published by U.S. media.
Joint Statement by the United States, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates
The UAE and Israel wish to express their gratitude for the overwhelmingly positive response to this historic accord from governments around the world. They are especially grateful to President Donald J. Trump for his leadership and to his administration for the critical role it has played in achieving this diplomatic breakthrough. They are also greatly encouraged by the broad bipartisan support for this breakthrough from the United States Congress.
President @realDonaldTrump was able to get Israel to agree to a two-state solution with the Palestinian people—and, for the first time in history, agree to a map that outlined the territory.
(13.08.2020)
UAE committed to Palestinian state, Arab Peace Initiative, spokeswoman tells ToI
The United Arab Emirates remains committed to the establishment of a Palestinian state and to the terms of the Arab Peace Initiative, a senior official from the Arab Gulf state told The Times of Israel on Thursday, in rare on-the-record remarks to Israeli media.
Jordan’s King Does Not Want a Palestinian State
(06.08.2020)
King Abdullah II of Jordan does not really want a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria, despite his repeated opposition to the extension of Israeli sovereignty to the so-called “West Bank.”
After Netanyahu Commits to Future Annexation, Trump Says It‘s ‚Off the Table for Now‘
„Israel agreed not to annex parts of the West Bank. It is more than taking it off the table – they agreed not to do it. This is a very smart concession by Israel. It is off the table now,“ Trump said during a White House briefing.
11 European Foreign Ministers Urge EU to List Options to ‚Deter‘ Israeli Annexation
In a letter sent to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Friday, they wrote that doing so is essential, because “the window to deter annexation is fast closing.”
The letter, a copy of which was obtained by Haaretz, was signed by the foreign ministers of France, Italy, Holland, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Portugal and Malta.
Joint Declaration of the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, France, Germany and Jordan on the current state of the Middle East Peace Process
We exchanged views on the current state of the Middle East Peace Process and its regional implications. We concur that any annexation of Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 would be a violation of international law and imperil the foundations of the peace process. We would not recognize any changes to the 1967 borders that are not agreed by both parties in the conflict.
Gemeinsame Erklärung der Außenminister Ägyptens, Deutschlands, Frankreichs und Jordaniens zum Stand des Nahostfriedensprozesses
Wir haben uns über den gegenwärtigen Stand des Nahostfriedensprozesses und seine regionalen Auswirkungen ausgetauscht. Wir sind einhellig der Auffassung, dass jede Annexion der 1967 besetzten Palästinensischen Gebiete gegen das Völkerrecht verstoßen und die Grundlagen des Friedensprozesses gefährden würde. Wir würden keinerlei Veränderung der Grenzen von 1967 anerkennen, die nicht von beiden Konfliktparteien vereinbart wurde.
Jordan, Egypt, Germany, France warn Israel against West Bank areas annexation
Jordan, Egypt, Germany and France came out with a joint statement Tuesday warning Israel against applying its laws to a number of West Bank areas.
The statement was released by the German Foreign Ministry after a video conference held by the top diplomats from the four countries.
U.S. Jews Are Clear: We Won’t Back Bibi’s Conspiracies, Colonial Inclinations or Corruption
We believe in a Jewish and democratic Israel. We feel no obligation to defend Netanyahu’s pathological viciousness, monumentally stupid annexation, incitement and self-enrichment
Joint List to EU: Suspend Ties with Israel if It Won’t Desert Annexation
In letters to senior EU officials, including foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the 15 Joint List MKs wrote that “the traditional approach based on providing incentives to Israel has thus far failed to achieve our shared legitimate positions.” According to Hadash MK Youssef Jabareen, “We requested that top EU officials act to prevent annexation including re-evaluating the EU-Israel partnership agreement, recognizing a Palestinian state according to the ’67 borders and labeling goods from the occupied Palestinian territories. Palestinians deserve independence and freedom.”
Joint List Urges Major British Parties to Oppose Annexation
The Joint List called on Britain’s biggest political parties to vigorously oppose Israel’s plans to annex parts of the Palestinian occupied West Bank. The two letters, dated June 26 were penned by Hadash MK Yousef Jabareen, the head of the Joint List’s international relations committee, and were sent to the UK Conservative party leader, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and the Labour party’s leader, Sir Keir Starmer. In the letters, the Joint List parliamentarians said the UK needed to “actively oppose” attempts by Israel to unilaterally annex territory.
“History has demonstrated the tragic consequences of illegal annexations,” the letter read. “We fear that if Britain and its European allies do not urgently act to prevent this impending annexation, our region may witness yet another major upheaval.”
Palestinian-Israeli Joint List urges US Democrats to stop annexation
(25.06.2020)
So far, the party has only verbally denounced Israel‘s plans. The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has categorically ruled out setting conditions on US aid to Israel.
In the Senate, a letter warning that annexation would „erode the strong support among the American people for the special relationship and diplomatic partnership with the United States that Israel currently enjoys“ only gained the support of 21 legislators.
How Netanyahu Silenced Israel’s Spies and Soldiers From Dissenting on Annexation
In the coming months no less than five senior members of the security establishment face replacement.
They are: Yossi Cohen, head of Mossad (Israel’s foreign espionage agency); Nadav Argaman, head of the Shin Bet, (domestic security service); Major-General Tamir Hayman, chief of Military Intelligence, and its Research Directorate director, Brigadier-General Dror Shalom; and finally, Meir Ben Shabat, head of the National Security Council.
Engel bragged, ‘I sit down with AIPAC on every piece of legislation’ coming out of Foreign Affairs Committee
(20.06.2020)
Embattled congressman Eliot Engel, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has bragged that he sits down with the rightwing pro-Israel organization AIPAC on “every piece of legislation coming out of the Foreign Affairs Committee.”
In a 2018 speech to an AIPAC gathering in his NY district, Engel noted that he and Rep. Nita Lowey had both been in the House 30 years and were soon to assume chair positions that they could use to help Israel.
Netanyahu Will Miss Trump, But Can Live With Biden
In the last three Israeli electoral campaigns, Trump worked hard to keep Bibi in office. Now it is Trump who is running for re-election. The president fully expects Bibi to reciprocate.
But loyalty and gratitude are not among Bibi’s virtues.
Many Will Take Credit, but This Is the Real Reason Netanyahu Delayed His Annexation Plan
Joe Biden is the main reason Netanyahu is not annexing.
There are few politicians who have a keener understanding of polls than Netanyahu. He has several pollsters on his official and unofficial payroll, and keeps in touch with others. His polling brain-trust is heavily American and though they have misled at least once in the past, when he thought that Mitt Romney had a chance of denying Barack Obama a second term in 2012. He is fully aware now that Trump’s chances of winning in November are vanishing.
Netanyahu signals delay in West Bank annexation plan
Netanyahu made the comments shortly after wrapping up talks with White House envoy Avi Berkowitz and the U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman. The sides have been holding talks for several months on finalizing a map spelling out which areas of the West Bank will be annexed by Israel.
„I spoke about the question of sovereignty, which we are working on these days and we will continue to work on in the coming days,“ Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu: ‚Iran continues secret program to develop nuclear weapons‘
He also commended the United States for the January drone strike that killed Quds force leader, „arch-terrorist“ Qasem Soleimani and warned that Israel will do everything necessary to make sure that Iran does not expand its foothold in Syria.
The comments were made during a joint press briefing with Brian Hook, US Special Representative on Iran, who visited Israel as part of his larger official Middle East trip.
Order from Chaos: What Americans think about the looming Israeli annexation and Trump’s Middle East plan
How do Americans feel about the offer, and about possible Israeli annexation of West Bank territories?
To find out, we fielded a set of questions through the University of Maryland Critical Issues Poll. The poll was carried out by Nielsen Scarborough, among a nationally representative sample of 2,395 American adults, fielded March 10-20.
Notably, only 8% of respondents who were at least “somewhat familiar” with the plan …
15 members of the Israeli Knesset’s Joint List sent a letter to Democrats, calling on them to oppose annexation: „Democrats have a decision to make. Will they keep wringing their hands and expressing ‘concern,’ or are they going to do something about it?“
Benjamin Netanyahu has asked American evangelical supporters to lobby in favor of annexing parts of the West Bank in an attempt to press President Trump to give Israel the green light for annexing parts of the West Bank
(29.06.2020)
Why it matters: Israeli officials say Netanyahu thinks President Trump is politically vulnerable four months before the U.S. election and that he could lose to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. He thinks Trump needs the evangelical base to go to vote in order to have a chance at winning.
IDF generals urge Trump to stand behind Netanyahu’s sovereignty plan
(23.06.2020)
The idea of Israeli sovereignty over 30% of the West Bank, including all of the settlements, is already incorporated into Trump‘s peace plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
However, Israel can do so only with approval from the US.
Trump’s endorsement crucial for Netanyahu’s annexation plan
(23.06.2020)
“[Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is entirely dependent on [President Donald] Trump for the annexation. We have no illusions that he would operate against decisions taken in the White House.” These words were told to Al-Monitor by a senior Likud minister speaking on condition of anonymity.
Palestinians offer negotiations days before planned annexation – report
The Palestinian Authority dispatched a letter on Monday addressed to the Quartet on the Middle East stating that it‘s prepared to renew negotiations with Israel and agree to „minor territorial exchanges,“ according to reports by Ynet News on Monday night.
The Quartet on the Middle East, a foursome consisting of the United Nations, the US, Russia and the European Union involved in mediating the Israeli–Palestinian peace process.
Coronavirus Israel Live: Public Gatherings Capped Amid Fears of Second Wave
Palestinian Authority to lock down all areas with confirmed cases
After Gantz Pours Cold Water on Annexation, Netanyahu Says Issue Not Up to Him
„We are in contact with the American team here in Israel,“ Netanyahu said at a Likud meeting. „We are doing so discretely. The issue is not up to [Gantz‘s party] Kahol Lavan. They are not a factor either way.“
Earlier on Monday, Gantz met with Trump‘s special envoy Avi Berkowitz and U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman to discuss the Trump administration‘s peace plan.
Netanyahu presses Trump by lobbying U.S. evangelicals to back annexation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked evangelical supporters to lobby in favor of Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank, via a speech Sunday night to the American group the Christians United for Israel (CUFI).