https://arab.news/p5j62
- United States will recognize Israeli settlements on the occupied West Bank
- The absence of the Palestinians from Trump鈥檚 announcement is likely to fuel criticism that the plan tilts toward Israel
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday unveiled a long-awaited Middle East peace plan that broadly favored Israel, as expected, but also defied expectations by offering the Palestinian people a path to statehood.
Trump proposed a Palestinian state double the size of the existing Palestinian territories, with East Jerusalem as its capital and a US Embassy there; high-speed rail links between Palestinian areas and a tunnel linking the West Bank and Gaza; a four-year ban on Israeli settlement building on land earmarked for a Palestinian state; $50 billion in economic aid; and continued oversight by Jordan of Al-Aqsa mosque compound.
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Trump unveiled his plan at the White House alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, before an audience comprising mostly supporters of Israel but also including ambassadors from the UAE, Bahrain and Oman.
Opinion
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He admitted the plan was good for Israel, but said it also had to benefit the Palestinians 鈥渙therwise it wouldn鈥檛 be fair.鈥�
鈥淚 am saddened by the fate of the Palestinian people. They deserve a far better life,鈥� he said.
Spotlight: Trump鈥檚 Middle East plan forges unexpected unity in Palestinian ranks
Trump said his plan would end 鈥淧alestinian dependency on charity and foreign aid. We will help the Palestinians to thrive on their own. The Palestinians will be able to seize the future 鈥� We are asking them to meet the challenges of peaceful coexistence.鈥�
Trump said Palestinians must adopt basic laws enshrining human rights, end corruption and disarm Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza.
He said Israel would work closely with Jordan to preserve the status quo of Al-Aqsa mosque compound.
Trump said he had written to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas 鈥渆xplaining the territory allocated for his new state.鈥�
鈥淚t will become a wonderful Palestinian state,鈥� he said. 鈥淧resident Abbas, I want you to know, if you chose the path to peace, America will be there 鈥� every step of the way. We will be there to help.鈥�
However, Abbas immediately rejected the plan on Tuesday night. Visibly angry on Palestinian TV, he said: 鈥淣o, a thousand times no.鈥�
That the plan was based on a unified Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel is 鈥渆nough for us to reject it,鈥� he said.
In Lebanon, the Fatah movement called for a 鈥渄ay of rage鈥� to resist the deal.
*Daoud Kuttab reported from Amman and Najia Houssari from Beirut