T. Belman. Not only will the annexation not hurt peace prospects, it is in line with them. I have advised many times that I believe that the Jordan Option will be embraced by the Trump team. This annexation is in line with the Option which provides for Israel sovereignty to the Jordan River. This option embraces the idea that Jordan will be the Palestinian State and Israel the Jewish state with the Jordan River deividing them has as the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel currently provides.
Despite Netanyahu’s election-eve vow, White House official says there’s ‘no change in United States policy at this time’
By Eric Cordellessa, TOI 10 September 2019, 11:17 pm
WASHINGTON — The White House said Tuesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vow to annex the Jordan Valley and West Bank settlements would not foreclose the possibility of a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict if enacted.
A source familiar with the administration’s thinking told The Times of Israel that the United States was “informed of this announcement before it was made.” Trump’s team, the source went on, said they “do not think it precludes the possibility of a political settlement in the future.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Netanyahu promised in a campaign pitch to immediately apply Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, almost a quarter of the West Bank, if he scraps together a new government after the election next week — in a move that is widely seen as an attempt to shore up his right-wing base.
The Israeli premier also repeated his pledge to annex all the West Bank settlements, but said this would only be done in a spirit of “maximal coordination” with the Trump administration.
Many in the international community strongly condemned his announcement, suggesting it would kill any hope for the eventual emergence of a Palestinian state.
The United Nations said that annexation would have no “international legal effect” but would hurt the prospects for peace. “The secretary-general’s position has always been clear: unilateral actions are not helpful in the peace process,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. “Such a prospect would be devastating to the potential of reviving negotiations, regional peace, and the very essence of a two-state solution.”
@ Bear Klein: Didn’t know about that until you told us, Bear. But it supports my belief, or hope, that an informal de facto peace between Israel and the four allied Gulf states is shaping up. De facto peace is always more important than formal peace. The latter always comes about at some point once de facto peace exists. But the reverse is often not true. Many peace treaties have been signed between countries that were at war with each other again within a few years (example” the Treaty of Versailles).
@ Adam Dalgliesh:Formal Peace Deal still not great odds.
However, we are now regularly doing things together with the UAE. One example we have even sold or leased them a spy plane which they use to patrol the Persian Gulf with.
Since Bibi said applied sovereignty to all Jewish Towns plus non-specified land needed for security (assumption near Jewish Towns and roads) plus the Jordan Valley and Northern Dead Sea Area this amounts to basically most of Area C excluding the Arab Villages in Area C.
Perhaps this excludes providing residency to Arab Residents of C?
We will have to wait until after the election assuming the right wins and drafts legislation with the details to the Judea/Samaria Sovereignty plan and Trumps Plan.
I agree with Laura….. no need to listen to Tucker Carlson anymore….. he sounds like a Demoncrat. Bolton understands Islam – Carlson, Trump and Kusher do not. If Trump did understand Islam he would have outlawed, banned the Muslim Brotherhood as President Sisi urged him to do months ago.
This from Ynetnews. If accurate, it may mean that Israel has a real chance of achieving peace with the Gulf States, and even with some Muslims from Russia.
The West Bank would not have emerged if the UN issued the required Resolutions condemning Jordan’s illegal annexation west of the river. This blame falls most on Britain who abandoned its responsibility of its own 2-State provision in Palestine, and left whistling.
Love when a?l come with the same quote ‘a violation of international law.’ I’ve yet to hear one quote which ‘international law.’
Monkey see monkey do.
Thank HaShem for correcting the 52 year old error…