Israel’s ambassador to the UN predicts the Trump administration will present its peace plan in early 2019.
Pamela Falk | CBS News | Nov 28, 2018
President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, and White House Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, have been drafting the Trump administration’s long-awaited plan for a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, and they have touted its preparation several times since the White House’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on Dec 6 and the opening of the new US embassy there in May.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations said Tuesday that the White House intends to move forward with its much-anticipated Middle East peace plan early next year, before expected Israeli elections.
“We don’t know the details of the plan but we know that it’s completed,” Ambassador Danny Danon told a small group of reporters Tuesday in his office near UN Headquarters. He said the Trump administration has told the Israeli government that it is prepared to roll out the plan in early 2019.
President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, and White House Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, have been drafting the Trump administration’s long-awaited plan for a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, and they have touted its preparation several times since the White House’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on Dec 6 and the opening of the new US embassy there in May.
The date for Israeli elections is not set, but Danon predicted a vote would likely be called for May or June. That would mean “a window of opportunity for the administration to present the peace plan” in early 2019, he said.
US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman has cautioned the Trump administration’s Middle East team, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton, not to roll out the White House plan at a time that would in any way interfere in Israeli elections.
Danon said it would be “horrendous” if the White House decided to present its proposal during the Israeli election campaign. He added that if the Trump administration doesn’t present the plan soon, there will not be another opportunity until next fall when there is a new Israeli government.
“We know that there will be parts that we will like, there will be parts that we don’t like . . . but we will be open-minded. We will be willing to negotiate, to speak about everything,” Danon said, adding that the United States is working to bring Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia into the peace effort.
“I think one thing is for sure, the Palestinians are suffering today, the people,” Danon said.
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