US President Donald Trump plans to propose a comprehensive political plan to the Palestinian-Israeli negotiation table, uncovered a high-ranking US official engaged in talks with the Israelis.
“Parties to the conflict in the Middle East will be compelled to live with this new proposal,” the official said on Tuesday.
Speaking on conditions of anonymity, he said contrary to reports published in Israel this week, this plan is considered as “take it or leave it.”
The official also said that Washington plans to present Trump’s proposal to the Israelis and the Palestinians for discussion by December as the president does not wish to enter into long negotiations with the two sides, similar to what happened with his predecessor Barack Obama.
“Trump does not have time to play. This is his plan, and this is what will be,” the official said, adding that the new proposal aims to prevent negotiators to sit for hours in closed rooms, only to exchange accusations.
The official said that in the absence of such option, there would be a bigger possibility to find out which party will be responsible for the failure of the peace operation.
“Israel should understand that it cannot hope for a negotiation team better than three Jewish men with Kippahs on their heads,” he said, alluding to US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, and the two envoys Jason Greenblatt and Jared Kushner.
Diplomatic sources in Tel Aviv, who were informed about Trump’s plan, said that Washington’s new proposal is expected to produce a big earthquake in the political arena in Israel.
“If there is anything that can threaten the ruling coalition today, it is surely the expected Trump plan,” he said.
The official said that lately, Trump has taken several dramatic decisions in the benefit of Israel.
“The US president did not take those decisions by chance, but he rather sent a message to the Israeli public and the Netanyahu coalition that Washington would not allow anyone to mess with Israel’s interests. But, on the other hand, Trump wants to achieve a historic agreement,” the official added.
