Pompeo Expects Mideast Peace Plan to be Unveiled in Coming Weeks

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo waves the crowd before speaking at the 101st National Convention of The American Legion in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo waves the crowd before speaking at the 101st National Convention of The American Legion in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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Pompeo Expects Mideast Peace Plan to be Unveiled in Coming Weeks

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo waves the crowd before speaking at the 101st National Convention of The American Legion in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo waves the crowd before speaking at the 101st National Convention of The American Legion in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday that he thinks the Trump administration will unveil its much-delayed Israeli-Palestinian peace plan in the coming weeks.

"I think in the coming weeks we'll announce our vision," Pompeo said in response to a question after a speech at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.

Last week, the outgoing White House Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt said the United States will not release the long-delayed political portion of its peace plan before Israel's Sept. 17 elections.

An administration official said Thursday that Greenblatt will depart the administration in the coming weeks once the so-called "Deal of the Century" is released.

Trump has said he will release the plan some time after Israel holds the elections that will decide the fate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a close Trump ally.

Whether Trump releases the plan immediately after the election or he waits until a governing coalition is formed, a process that could take weeks, remains unclear.



Israel Issues Evacuation Warning for Five Southern Lebanese Towns

A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
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Israel Issues Evacuation Warning for Five Southern Lebanese Towns

A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

The Israeli army issued a statement on Sunday requesting the residents of five towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate in anticipation of airstrikes, while warning residents not to head south.
The military told the residents of Zawtar al-Sharqiya, Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Arnoun, Yuhmor, and al-Qusayba, to evacuate their homes immediately and move north of the Awwali River.
“You must evacuate immediately to the north of Awwali River to ensure your safety, you must evacuate without delay. Anyone near Hezbollah fighters, facilities or weapons is putting their life at risk”, added the statement.
In a separate statement, the army said that sirens sounded in central Israel due to Hezbollah rockets fired from Lebanon.
It added that six projectiles were detected crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory, and that its air forces intercepted five of the rockets, while the last one landed in an open area.