Trump to Decide on ‘Deal of the Century’ Release Date in Coming Days
- Trump to Decide on ‘Deal of the Century’ Release Date in Coming Days
by LEON SVERDLOV, https://www.jpost.com/
Presenting the peace plan before the upcoming Israeli election might tilt the odds in favor of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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US President Donald Trump is expected to decide in the coming days whether to present the White House’s Middle East peace plan before the Israeli election, Channel 13’s political correspondent Barak Ravid reported in the American news website Axios on Sunday.
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According to Ravid, there have been intense deliberation among Trump’s advisers regarding the issue. Trump’s hesitation is caused by the possible effect the publication of the peace plan might have on Israel’s March 2 general parliamentary election, as well as the upcoming US presidential election, which is scheduled for November. If Trump decides to wait until after the election, it may be difficult for him to present his plan later due to his 2020 re-election campaign, Ravid said.
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Presenting the plan before the election might tilt the odds in favor of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose primary focus in the runup to the election is expected to be on the question of parliamentary immunity.
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After Netanyahu was indicted for bribery, fraud and breach of trust, his legal issues have also become the focus of the campaign by rival party Blue and White, which is currently also the largest party in the Knesset.
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Deemed by many as crucial for the stability of the region, Trump’s famous ‘Deal of the Century’ has been the focus of much speculation. A December report by Lebanese pan-Arabist TV channel al-Mayadeen said that a draft copy of the plan said Jerusalem would remain united mostly under Israeli control with some responsibilities shared with a Palestinian state. The reports also claimed that the plan included the formation of “New Palestine” in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with the settlement blocs remaining Israeli territory.
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