Reversing course, Gantz urges Trump to ‘move up’ peace plan rollout

Blue and White party leaders Benny Gantz and Blue and White parliament member Moshe Yaalon seen during a visit in Vered Yeriho observation point, in the Juden Desert

Jacob Magid and TOI staff write, “Blue and White leader Benny Gantz said he did not oppose the release of the Trump administration’s peace plan before Israel’s forthcoming election on March 2, an apparent change of heart after he earlier this month said doing so would constitute “interference” in Israel’s election. During a visit to the Jordan Valley on Tuesday at which he declared he supported Israeli annexation of the area “in coordination with the international community,” Gantz was asked by a reporter if he’d support Washington’s expected release of the long-awaited plan in the coming weeks.”

“He said he did not oppose doing so, and suggested the White House should release it sooner rather than later.“I hope the president will move up [the roll-out] and I expect the plan will be released very soon. Several weeks have passed. A lot of dramatic things are happening in the Middle East, and I look forward to the publication of the plan,” Gantz said. It was not immediately clear what led to Gantz’s reversal. The plan is expected to heavily favor Israel’s views on a final peace settlement with the Palestinians, and its pre-election release is widely seen in Israel as a move by US President Donald Trump to help the reelection prospects of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

“One report on the Walla news site claimed Gantz has faced pressure, including “angry” messages, from the Trump administration after expressing his opposition to the release ahead of the Israeli elections.”

From left to right: Blue and White Party MK Yair Lapid, party leader Benny Gantz, Special Adviser to the US President Jared Kushner, and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman during a meeting at the US Embassy in Jerusalem, October 28, 2019

“Gantz was in the Jordan Valley Tuesday to highlight what he called his own commitment to push for Israel’s annexation of the strategic territory. He vowed to push to apply Israeli sovereignty over the area following the elections, but “in coordination with the international community.” “The Jordan Valley is the eastern defense shield of the State of Israel, in any future [conflict] scenario we may face. Governments that have contemplated handing it away made a strategic and grave security mistake,” he said.”

“We see this piece of land as an inseparable part of the State of Israel and after the elections we’ll work toward applying sovereignty over the Jordan Valley. We’ll do this in a move agreed on nationally and in coordination with the international community.” Shortly before the September elections, Netanyahu promised he would apply sovereignty to the Jordan Valley — which constitutes about a quarter of the West Bank — immediately after he manages to form a government.” (more…)