U.S. President Donald Trump has a “Palestine Plan” on his mind, however its contents are not yet clear. Trump had authorized his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt to implement this plan he claims will supposedly bring peace to the Middle East. Trump’s Ambassador to Israel David Friedman is also on the board of the Middle East Peace Committee (MEPC). Prior to joining Trump’s administration, these three figures were among the American Jews who support the policies concerning the illegal settlement on occupied Palestinian land.
The Trump administration’s pro-Israel policies, particularly moving the U.S.’s Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, did nothing other than serve the aim of cutting ties with the Palestinian administration. Trump believes his idea that he is going to bring peace to the Middle East by cooperating with non-Palestinian actors. These actors are Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, and Egyptian dictator Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi. Trump seems to rely greatly on his son-in-law Kusher’s sinister relations with the two princes. He thinks that his partnership with these two actors is going to make the Palestinians accept an unjust agreement.
Trump is waiting for the most suitable time to announce the Palestine Plan, but this "suitable time" never seems to come. The plan was expected to be announced in fall 2018, however, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Saudi Arabia's Istanbul consulate changed the timing. Increased suspicions that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is behind the murder interrupted the announcement of the plan. The Trump administration is making efforts to keep the head of the prince, who is shown as instigator even in the CIA report, above water. Israel, Christian-Zionist evangelists, the Israeli lobby, neo-cons, the UAE and Egypt, have lined up all together behind Salman. A committee composed of U.S. evangelicals visited the prince and showed him their support. In this meeting, the prince shared his thoughts on the Palestine Plan, but asked that it not be revealed to the public.
According to the information leaked to Israeli and U.S. media, the Trump administration is going to work on a presentation on the announcement of the Palestine Plan within this week. Trump is going to meet with his national security and foreign policy advisers at the White House and discuss the details of the plan. In addition to Jared Kushner, Jason Greenblatt and David Friedman, and National Security Adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are also going to be at the meeting. Let me remind you that Bolton and Pompeo are among Israel's closest allies in the U.S.
"Our Home, Israel" party leader Avigdor Lieberman's resignation from the Defense Ministry had a negative impact on the timing related to the announcement of Trump's Palestine Plan. Lieberman not only announced that his party would be withdrawing from the coalition, he also made a call for early elections. The crisis that emerged in Israel with Lieberman's resignation may delay the announcement of Trump's Palestine Plan one more time. However, under these circumstances, another actor is likely to step in: apparently French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to suggest his own "Middle East Peace Plan."
As a matter of fact, Netanyahu does not come close to any solution that will satisfy the Palestinians. Thanks to Trump, Netanyahu has yielded gains that no other Israeli government achieved to date. The enactment of the "Jewish Nation-State Law" openly reveals that Netanyahu is aiming to turn Palestinians into outcasts in Palestine. What Trump wants for the Palestinians is unknown. Trump, who is preparing to run in the 2020 presidential elections, needs the Israeli lobby. Let us not forget that the Trump cabinet is the most pro-Israel American cabinet.
