• Trump: "We will recognize a Palestinian state" but "Jerusalem will be Israel's undivided capital"
  • Middle East: Trump presents peace plan, not Palestinians
  • Palestinian leader Abbas: Trump's plan will not pass, Jerusalem is not for sale
  • The Jerusalem issue according to Trump's plan

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January 29, 2020 A rocket launched by the Gaza Strip over Israel exploded in an uninhabited area without causing damage or injury. It is the first rocket launched by the Strip after US President Donald Trump presented his peace plan. Israeli defense added that shortly before launch the sirens rang in the Kissufim area near the Gaza Strip.

The launch has a demonstrative flavor and comes after the words of the president of the Palestinian National Authority, Abu Mazen: "Jerusalem is not for sale and our rights are not bartered. I will go to the UN to explain the reasons for the Palestinian refusal". A clear stance which also inspired the statement by Turkish President Erdogan: "Jerusalem is sacred to Muslims. Donald Trump's plan to give Jerusalem to Israel is absolutely unacceptable."

Israel strengthens the army
The Israeli army announced tonight that it will strengthen its presence in the West Bank and near the Gaza Strip with "combat troops" the day after the announcement of the American peace plan for the Middle East. "After an assessment of the situation, it was decided to strengthen our divisions in Judea and Samaria (name given by the Israeli authorities to the West Bank) and Gaza with additional combat troops," the army said in a statement. The army had already announced yesterday, a few hours before the announcement of the American plan in Washington, the deployment of reinforcements in the Jordan Valley, a strategic area that represents about 30% of the West Bank.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had promised, shortly before the September elections, to annex this valley. Now the American plan supports in this sense Netanyahu's plan and therefore the annexation of this land tongue by Israel. Demonstrations against the American plan, rejected in bulk by Palestinian leaders, took place today in various locations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Tension in the Middle East
The US peace plan for the Middle East has sparked the anger of the Palestinians and the exultation of the Israeli right that is pressing on the government to immediately implement the annexation of the Jordan Valley and the Jewish colonies in the West Bank. The "Day of Anger" was launched in the Territories after the Trump administration's initiative managed to bring together, after years, Hamas and Fatah, aligned in the fight against the so-called "Agreement of the Century". For Saeb Erekat, a historic Palestinian negotiator, Washington "made a copy and paste of Netanyahu's and the settlers' plan."

The climate in Israel is completely different, where the right is celebrating what is seen as a de facto green light given by the Trump administration to the annexation of the Jordan Valley and the Jewish settlements in the West Bank and pressures because the government of Benjamin Netanyahu put it into practice immediately, before the elections on March 2nd.

The Palestinian state
In reality, the Israeli right has no intention of seeing a Palestinian state born, as expected, albeit with great limitations, from Washington's own plan. "We will not allow the Israeli government to recognize a Palestinian state under any circumstances, not even a millimeter of land to the Arabs," said Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, followed by Transport Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who reiterated the total opposition to "any type of Arab sovereignty over the land of Israel". Today, however, the Minister of Tourism, Yariv levin, explained in an interview with Military Radio that the issue will not be discussed in days: a "technical" referral to prepare the documents and to await the opinion of the Attorney General, Avichai Mandelblit, on the possibility that an interim government could implement initiatives of this magnitude.

Israel without leader
The postponement after the elections is instead the position of the center party "Blue and White" which in a note expressed support for the US plan, stating that "it is entirely consistent with the principles of state and security adopted" by the party. The project "provides a solid and viable basis for advancing a peace agreement with the Palestinians, while preserving existing agreements between Israel, Jordan and Egypt and allowing their expansion to other countries in the region". However, to implement it, the centrist party stressed, Israel needs "a strong and stable government, led by an individual who can devote all his time and energy to guaranteeing the security of the country and its future", a clear reference to its leader Benny Gantz, and not by "a defendant facing serious corruption charges", Netanyahu, formally indicted yesterday by prosecutor Avichai Mandelblit.

Labor and the agreement with the Palestinians
The leader of the Israeli Labor left, Amir Peretz, has instead stopped any hypothesis of a unilateral step: "We will determine our destiny through direct negotiations with the Palestinian Authority which will conclude with an agreement that will secure a Jewish and democratic state within secure borders for future generations ". The race for annexation of the Jordan Valley and the colonies is in any case out of the question for an interim government, added Peretz, pointing the finger at the lack of legitimacy.

Dry opposition from the Arab-Israelis
Clear condemnation by Arab-Israeli parliamentarians who see the plan as a step towards the establishment of an apartheid regime; under particular accusation the hypothesis that some Arab cities in northern Israel may end up under the jurisdiction of a future Palestinian state in exchange for territories for the Jewish state. An idea promoted years ago by ultra-nationalist leader Avigdor Lieberman, "inevitable end point of the racist agenda of Trump and Bibi (Netanyahu), a go-ahead to revoke the citizenship of hundreds of thousands of Arab citizens," said the leader of the Joint List, Ayman Odeh.