White House Unveils Economic Portion of Israeli-Palestinian Peace Plan

In a surprise move, the White House posted to its website Saturday a 40-page document outlining its economic vision for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The U.S. is sponsoring a “workshop” in Bahrain this week during which Jared Kushner – President Donald Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law, who has spearheaded the U.S. peace push – will delve into the details of the proposal with a view to raising $50 billion in investments. The administration has earmarked half of the desired funds for development and infrastructure projects in the West Bank and Gaza Strip geared toward improving the lives of Palestinians. Most of the rest will be disbursed in the form of aid to regional countries such as Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. Notably, these places are where the vast majority of Palestinian refugees, outside of the dispute territories, reside, thus raising speculation that Washington will pressure Cairo, Amman and Beirut to integrate millions of these individuals into their societies. Predictably, the publication of the document prompted immediate condemnations from Ramallah, with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s ruling Fatah faction calling for days of violence during the Bahrain event, which the PA is boycotting. Abbas and PA Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh will both hold press conferences on the matter Sunday afternoon. PA leaders argue that the Trump Administration is trying to “liquidate” their cause by enticing them with billions of dollars instead of presenting practical political solutions to the core elements of the conflict.