U.S. Says 'Will Not' Release Mideast Peace Plan before Israeli Election

W460

A long-promised U.S. proposal for Israeli-Palestinian peace will remain under wraps until Israel's elections are over in September, the White House special envoy said Wednesday.

"We have decided that we will not be releasing the peace vision (or parts of it) prior to the Israeli election," Jason Greenblatt tweeted.

Greenblatt appeared to be clearing up confusion over the timing of the plan's release following a mixed message from President Donald Trump over the weekend.

Trump, speaking at a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, said the deal would wait for after the election but seemed to say a preview was coming.

"I think you may see what the deal is before the election," he told reporters.

In the same comments, Trump insisted that the Palestinians "would like to make a deal." He also defended his decision to cut off U.S. aid to the U.N. agency helping Palestinians refugees.

Trump has repeatedly boasted that he is the most pro-Israeli U.S. president in history.

The peace plan, devised by his son-in-law Jared Kushner, has been rejected in advance by the Palestinians.

While the political part of the plan remains unknown, Kushner has aired the economic side, which would call for large-scale outside investment.

Comments 2
Thumb chrisrushlau 29 August 2019, 18:24

The Palestinians referred to by AFP who "would like to make a deal" are President-for-Life Abbas' two senior bribe-and-subsidy accountants, both serving sentences in Switzerland currently.

Missing phillipo 29 August 2019, 19:25

"President for Life"? Who are you kidding?
He was elected for a 4 year term over 10 years ago, and ever since he has refused to allow fresh elections. Dead scared of getting thrown out.
So how can any possible agreement be hammered out with someone who has usurped his position.