Donald Trump on his descent from Air Force One in Miami, January 23, 2020. - Brynn Anderson / AP / SIPA

Donald Trump will be able to put his reputation as a "deal maker" to the test. The US president announced Thursday that he would likely unveil his Middle East peace plan - which included his son-in-law Jared Kushner - before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington on Tuesday. "We will probably release it soon before," said Donald Trump on board the Air Force One presidential plane. "It is an excellent plan," he added. "I would really like to reach an agreement."

The White House has announced that Benjamin Netanyahu and his political rival Benny Gantz will travel to Washington next week. It was Mike Pence who invited Netanyahu during his visit to Israel, and the latter suggested inviting his rival for this "historic oppurtunity".

The United States looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister @Netanyahu & Blue & White Chairman @Gantzbe to the @WhiteHouse next week. Reports about details and timing of our closely-held peace plan are purely speculative.

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 23, 2020

Palestinians Denied

Asked about possible contacts between his administration and the Palestinians, who have already judged the stillborn text, Donald Trump remained elusive. "We spoke to them briefly," he replied, without further details. "I am sure they may react negatively at first, but it is actually very positive for them," he added.

The Palestinian Authority reiterated Thursday its rejection of the White House peace plan, highlighting the fact that Donald Trump had recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Palestinians want to make East Jerusalem the capital of the state they aspire to, but Israel considers Jerusalem to be its "unified and indivisible" capital.

According to Israeli media, the plan would grant the Hebrew state sovereignty over Jerusalem and its settlements in the West Bank. In return, it would recognize an independent Palestinian state but on condition that Gaza be demilitarized, that Hamas renounces its weapons and that the Palestinians recognize the state of Israel with Jerusalem as its capital. Donald Trump assured that it was only "speculation".

World

Middle East: Washington gives details of its (expensive) peace plan for the first time

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