What does the Deal of the Century include?
President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday unveiled the Deal of the Century peace plan during a special ceremony at the White House, the most comprehensive diplomatic plan to be introduced in the Middle East in years.
President Donald Trump and PM Netanyahu. (GPO)
The plan, titled “Vision for Peace, Prosperity, and a Brighter Future,” calls for the Israeli annexation of some 30% of the territory in Judea and Samaria already under its control, with the remaining 70% becoming a Palestinian state.
Likewise, some outlying neighbourhoods in Jerusalem will be turned over to the Arabs and become the capital of Palestine.
To an extent, the plan freezes the current situation and makes it the final status.
On Israel’s side, it receives American recognition of its application of Israeli law in the Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea, thus establishing its eastern border.
Likewise, Israel will receive American recognition for its application of Israeli law in Judea and Samaria on all existing Israel communities. Not one Israeli will be removed from his home in favour of a diplomatic solution.
The American recognition includes territories that surround the communities, allowing for their continued development. As part of Israel’s application of sovereignty, all localities are given land reserves that ensure their continued expansion.
The implementation of Israeli sovereignty will end all limitations on construction and development in areas in Judea and Samaria under its control.
The US’ recognition is vital because it can veto any attempt at the United Nations to sanction Israel over its annexations in Judea and Samaria.
Security-wise, the IDF will continue to control the entire area west of the Jordan, including all localities.
Israel will maintain security control of the sea, air, land, and the electromagnetic space west of Jordan, and have absolute security control of the border crossings.
The US now recognizes Israel’s sovereignty over the entirety of Jerusalem that is within the separation barrier running to its east, and the idea of dividing Jerusalem has been shelved.
Similarly, the Arab idea of the Right of Return for the so-called Palestinian refugees was completely shelved.
On the Palestinian side, before Israel is obliged to implement the arrangements and enable the establishment of the state of Palestine, the Palestinians must disarm the Hamas terror organization which rules Gaza, demilitarize the Gaza Strip, and stop the policy of paying funds to terrorists and their families.
Similarly, the Palestinian Authority is required to end all its diplomatic activities against Israel at international forums, cease incitement against Israel, and must not be accessed to international institutions without Israel’s consent.
On a more basic level, the Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish state, recognize Israel’s new borders after the annexation, recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and declare its complete waiver of the Right of Return.
Without fulfilling these conditions, there is no change in the status of Area C in Judea and Samaria under full Israeli control as per the 1995 Oslo Accords.
Palestine will not be able to have an army.
Israeli commentator Amit Segal noted that Trump’s plan “is a historic breakthrough with tremendous achievements never offered to Israel.”
“While Israel will gain the achievements immediately and without the conditions, the Palestinians have to go through ten levels of hell,” he said.
