BREAKING: Trump invites Netanyahu, Gantz to White House to Discuss Mideast Plan
Friend --
For several years, we’ve heard rumors and speculation about the release of the Trump administration’s so-called ‘peace plan’ for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Today, it truly looks as if the release of such a document may finally be imminent.
Following several days of anonymous officials hinting the plan could be released before Israel's March elections, Vice President Pence announced that both Prime Minister Netanyahu and his chief political rival Benny Gantz have been invited to Washington next week to discuss the plan. President Trump then confirmed the visit on Twitter.
Of course, the fact that two Israeli leaders, but no Palestinians, are invited to Washington only underscores what J Street and other observers have long made clear -- the administration’s proposal will not be an actual effort to bridge gaps between the two sides or facilitate serious negotiations to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Instead, it is expected to be the culmination of a series of steps taken by Trump and his team to advance the annexationist agenda of Prime Minister Netanyahu and the far-right settlement movement in Israel.
Today, we posted a public memo that outlines what we know about the proposal so far -- and explains why no serious observer should characterize it as a "peace" plan.
Read & Share Our Memo
There’s a very real chance that the plan will explicitly endorse Israeli annexations of parts of the occupied West Bank -- which could in turn encourage Netanyahu or the next Israeli government to actually move forward with unilateral annexations.
That’s why it’s so vital that, thanks in part to J Street’s advocacy efforts, the House of Representatives voted just last month to pass H.Res.326 -- which opposed unilateral Israeli annexation of the West Bank, asserted longstanding US opposition to settlement expansion and reaffirmed that any viable US peace plan must include support for a two-state solution. And it’s why we’ll be doing all that we can once the plan is released to urge lawmakers, presidential candidates and communal leaders to vociferously oppose its harmful provisions and to warn against the disastrous consequences of annexation.
As events develop in the coming days, we’ll continue to keep you posted on how J Street is responding and how you can take action.
Thanks for all that you do,
Logan Bayroff
Director of Communications
P.S. -- We're going to need your support in the weeks and months ahead to educate the public about the administration's plan and to stand up and fight back against the threat of annexation.
The best way to show your support is to become a sustaining donor. Right now, new monthly donors will have their gifts matched every month of 2020. Can we count on your support?
