The deal of the century ... Trump and Netanyahu's paper to settle the elections

Muhammad Mohsen Wedd - occupied Jerusalem

The US administration is discussing with the Israeli side the possibility of officially announcing the "deal of the century" before the Knesset elections that will be held on the second of March next, after postponing the move several times due to the crisis of forming the government in Israel and holding parliamentary elections for the third time within one year.

The US envoy to the Middle East, Abe Berkowitz, visited Israel a few days ago, met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and head of the "Blue and White" coalition Benny Gantz and US Ambassador David Friedman, and discussed with them the possibility of announcing the details of the American peace plan and the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict before the Knesset elections.

Although the terms of the "deal of the century" were not disclosed, the features of the revised plan that excludes the establishment of a Palestinian state indicates the approval of the US administration to annex the settlement bloc in line with the Israeli consensus, along with annexation of the Jordan Valley, the imposition of Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank, and the transfer of The American embassy is a permanent headquarters in Jerusalem, in line with the proposal of Netanyahu and the right parties.

The reasons for the consultations between the Israeli side and the Trump team, represented by Berkowitz, visited Israel on an official mission for the first time since the resignation of his predecessor Jason Greenblatt in November 2019, after Trump postponed the announcement of the "deal of the century" for the second time due to the re-election in Israel.

Discreetly and discreetly

Despite the secrecy of the meeting he met with the American envoy, Gantz expressed reservations about the American preparations to announce the "Deal of the Century" before the Knesset elections, saying, "I can assume that in such an important issue, the Americans will be careful, and they will not publish it during the elections. The elections will be a stark and real interference. "

And about the White House’s rushing offering of the “Deal of the Century” at this stage, Israeli analysts agree that the postponement of publishing the plan more than once gave the impression to the Palestinian side, and even to the “allies” of Tel Aviv in the Arab world, that the American plan is no longer of value, especially after the leaks that Emphasizes that it does not endorse the two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state within the borders of June 4, alongside Israel.

Analysts believe that the US administration, aware of the Israeli opposition to the peace plan, whether it was published before or after the Knesset elections, is in a hurry to reveal the plan and announce it officially as soon as possible, and not to postpone a date coinciding with the US presidential elections next November, which It means that it will be impossible to announce it in Trump's first term and wait until after the election of the American Election Fund has been decided.

And Trump's team, which wants to use the deal as a card in its presidential campaign, does not rule out the possibility of a political crisis in Israel, even after the third parliamentary elections next March, which means that postponing the publication of the "deal of the century" reduces the chances and prospects of its success and acceptance in the Middle East. .

Discount and update

Meanwhile, Barak Ravid, a Channel 13 political analyst, sees the arrival of Trump's envoy to Israel indicating the White House's seriousness about the possibility of revealing details of the peace plan before the Knesset elections.

However, the political analyst affirms that, in light of the hazy scene that hangs over the consultations between Tel Aviv and Washington on the Palestinian issue, a decision has not been made and a final decision has been taken on the issue of revealing the details of the "deal of the century", knowing that the matter is being seriously considered by President Donald Trump.

Regarding the rationale for the Israeli voices opposing the publication of the plan before the elections, the political analyst said, "Publishing the peace plan ahead of the Knesset elections can have a major impact on Israeli voters," as leaders of the "Blue and White" coalition fear a scenario in which the White House publishes the plan before the elections at the request Netanyahu.

The political analyst does not exclude the inclusion of the content and updating of the peace plan and the proposal to settle with the Palestinians with implications, such as annexing the Jordan Valley and imposing Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank, which would serve Netanyahu electoral and political.

Ravid explained that the delay in announcing the deal of the century due to the Israeli elections and the failure to form a government headed by Netanyahu, prompted the White House staff headed by Jared Kushner, adviser and son-in-law to the president to make changes and amendments to the terms and content of the US peace plan.

Controversy and agreement

Regarding the controversy over the appropriate timing for the publication of the postponed plan a year ago, Ariel Kahane, a political affairs reporter, reported that these questions remained vague and unanswered in Israel, as Israeli political parties are awaiting what will be issued by the White House regarding the publication of the details of the "deal of the century". The American administration may launch the "deal of the century" before approaching the date for the presidential elections in America.

In preparation for the announcement of the American peace plan, Kahana estimates that Netanyahu discussed with Trump's envoy "the non-war with the Arab states" agreement in light of the US-Iranian tension after the assassination of Washington, commander of the "Quds Force" Qassem Soleimani.

He pointed out that the confirmation of such an agreement between Israel and the Gulf states sends a positive message to confront the Iranian axis in the Middle East, as the political correspondent put it.

He suggested that the American envoy discussed with his country's ambassador to Israel the issue of final amendments and additions to the terms of the plan, including the permanent embassy of the American embassy in Jerusalem, where President Trump must take a decisive decision to adopt the consulate building located in the Arnona neighborhood as a permanent headquarters for the embassy, ​​or build a new building in the complex On the road to Hebron, in an area called "Allenby Complex" in the Baka neighborhood on both sides of the Green Line.