An Overview of Trump’s Middle East Plan
U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled the plan at a joint press conference last week along Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (Source)
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump released the second portion of his “Peace to Prosperity” plan — a proposed accord which partitions land between Israel and Palestine. This plan, drawn up by Trump’s senior advisor and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was met with both international praise and criticism for its controversial means of establishing “peace” in the region.
The Peace to Prosperity plan maintains that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, but offers that a future Palestinian capital to be placed in sections of East Jerusalem, where Trump says he is willing to open a U.S. embassy in the future. Furthermore, the plan allows Israel to keep control of its illegal (according to UN Security Council Resolution 2334) settlements in Palestinian territory, but more than doubles Palestine’s land in the region.
Perhaps the most influential part of the plan is the $50 billion investment over the next decade. Over half of these funds would go toward developing the West Bank and Gaza Strip in order to increase infrastructure, which would promote tourism; rebuild Palestinian hospitals and health clinics; as well as establish a new Palestinian university — to name a few.
The Peace to Prosperity plan itself requires a long list of criteria for Palestine to accomplish — not only as part of the plan, but as steps to obtaining a Palestinian state. The U.S. asks Palestine to halt its Prisoner and Martyr Payment program, which pays salaries to Palestinian prisoners, some of whom are affiliated with terror organizations, in Israeli prisons, as well as their families. Palestine also cannot join any international organization without consent from Israel; cannot continue prosecution of Israeli and U.S. citizens in the ICC, the ICJ, or other tribunals; and cannot continue to try Israeli and U.S. citizens before non-Israeli or non-U.S. legal systems. In return for this, the U.S. will allow the Office of the General Delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization to reopen; open a liaison mission to the Palestine Authority; resume assistance to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip; and work with the international community to support initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the Palestinian people.
Trump’s plan offers a list of requirements for Palestine to become a state. These requirements include a government; some sort of body of democratically-governing laws; financial institutions capable of partaking in international market transactions; the end of all school material including textbooks and curricula that “promote hatred” toward regional neighbors; a civilian and law enforcement control; and a demilitarization of the Palestinian population.
While Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated he was not supportive of the plan, several other international figures have voiced their support of or intent to further consider Trump’s plan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the plan was “a realistic plan for durable peace,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that Germany invites “every impulse to get the long-stalled Middle East peace process back up and running,” the United Arab Emirates contends that the plan represents an “important starting point” for peace, and Saudi Arabia also appreciates Trump’s effort to restore peace to the region.
While the plan will need to be negotiated among all parties, it is being called by some a viable plan for establishing peace between Israel and Palestine. The mere fact that a large number of international figures are at least open to considering this plan demonstrates its contention for a real solution. President Trump has found a way to offer Palestinians their own State, in a manner that would benefit not only Palestine, but the region and world as well. At the very least, it is a starting point. At the very best, it has found a way to bring long-absent peace to fruition.