Trump Peace Proposal Leaks: First Glimpse, Trial Balloon or Red Herring

An Israeli television channel has reported what it claims are elements of the long-awaited Trump peace proposal: or as it’s known in the region, “The Deal of the Century.” If the source is accurate, the Palestinians will be offered as much as 90% of the West Bank and east Jerusalem as its capital. Although Israel would retain control over holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem – which is located in the eastern portion of the city – the Jordanians and Palestinians would participate in custody of the sites. Although the TV channel identified its source only as “one briefed by the Americans,” many key issues were not addressed and in terms of specific details, the Palestinians would have received more in the deal Yassir Arafat turned down and more in the deal his successor Mahmoud Abbas turned down. Notably missing from the new report is any reference to the so-called “right of return” demanded by the Palestinians or the fate of the Gaza Strip that is governed by the Hamas terrorist organization which is hostile to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the Fatah faction which he heads. It had been believed that President Trump did not release the plan as a courtesy to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu who is facing a tough re-election battle on April 9. Specific aspects of the plan – if the partial release reported is accurate – will no doubt be rejected by large elements of both Israeli and Palestinian populations. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether the TV report is the first glimpse, trial balloon or red herring.