Gantz in Washington Wednesday to Defend ‘Settlements,’ Israeli Measures in West Bankhttps://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3649846/gantz-washington-wednesday-defend-%E2%80%98settlements%E2%80%99-israeli-measures-west-bank
Gantz in Washington Wednesday to Defend ‘Settlements,’ Israeli Measures in West Bank
Gantz and Blinken during a meeting in Jerusalem last March (Reuters)
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz announced he will travel Wednesday to the United States, where he expects to meet with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin in Washington to tackle issues of interest for both countries.
Although his office did not give details of the nature of the meeting, a source in his ministry said Gantz will try to defend the Israeli government’s decision to build about 4,000 new housing units in Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
The source said that Washington had strongly criticized the settlement decision, as well as the recent Israeli operations in the West Bank and Jerusalem, particularly the assassination of Palestinian-US journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and the brutal assault on her funeral processions.
Gantz will carry with him the results of the investigation conducted by an Israeli officer into the assassination.
Earlier this month, the Israeli Defense Minister had arranged to attend two Jewish events held in the US by his ministry, the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency, to raise funds for the Israeli army.
However, the assassination of Abu Akleh pushed Gantz to ask to meet US officials.
Last week, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called for an "immediate and credible investigation" into the circumstances of the killing of Abu Akleh.
Blinken announced that he spoke to Shireen's brother and expressed deep condolences for her loss, and deep respect for the work that she did as a journalist for many years.
US President Joe Biden has accepted an invitation to visit Israel in June and show support for Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett against the two men’s opponent, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Despite the announcement, the Biden administration had appealed several times to the Bennett government in recent weeks, warning against approving new settlement projects.
The US envoy to Israel, Thomas Naides, said he and other Biden administration officials have made it clear to Israeli officials several times in the last two weeks that the administration is opposed to the construction of new settlements and asked Israeli authorities not to move ahead with it.
Few days following Naides’ comments, the Israeli Civil Administration, a military body, said the Higher Planning Committee met last Thursday to give green light to the building of 3,988 new settler units.
Political sources in Tel Aviv expressed their fear of an angry US reaction to the Committee’s decision that would push the Biden administration to cancel or postpone the president’s visit to Israel.
Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post newspaper said that Bennett decided to take rightward steps to strengthen his Yamina party and prevent further defections from it.
It said Bennett will visit Elkana in Samaria on Tuesday, his first public visit to a West Bank settlement since becoming prime minister 11 months ago.
Asharq Al-Awsat Reveals Trump’s Written Pledge for Peace to Lebanese Community in UShttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5079697-asharq-al-awsat-reveals-trump%E2%80%99s-written-pledge-peace-lebanese-community-us
Asharq Al-Awsat Reveals Trump’s Written Pledge for Peace to Lebanese Community in US
Albert Abbas hands US President-elect Donald Trump the commemorative plaque. (AFP)
Lebanon’s parliament Speaker Nabih Berri spoke of a letter signed by American President-elect Donald Trump to pressure Israel to reach a ceasefire in Lebanon and go ahead with a plan to restore calm between Lebanon and Israel. The letter was a product of a role played by a family of Lebanese origin in the United States.
Trump signed the letter about a week ago and it was released days later at the request of the Lebanese community there.
It is seen as the first written pledge in history to be signed by a president to his voters, said Ali Abbas, who goes by the name Albert.
Abbas held talks with Trump’s adviser and son-in-law's father Dr. Massad Boulos, asking him that the president support the demands of the Lebanese and Arab diasporas in Michigan to exert pressure to stop the war and end the suffering of the Lebanese and Palestinian people in return for their votes in the presidential election.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Abbas said Boulos relayed the message to Trump, who in turn, sent a letter signed by him, cementing his pledge to the Lebanese community that he wants peace in the Middle East and world.
The letter carried frank support from Trump to use his influence to stop the war, giving the Arab community hope that peace and stability would be restored. The Lebanese community looks at the letter as an “opportunity to achieve peace” and that it was better than any opportunity that the Democrats could have offered the diaspora.
Abbas family
Abbas, 48, hails from a Lebanese family that immigrated from Lebanon in the 1970s. He was born and raised in the US and has become involved in the Arab community there. He is following in his father’s footsteps, who left for the US in 1972, and played a role in the 1980s in sending messages between the Ronald Reagan administration and Lebanese.
Abbas refuses to say that he comes from a political family, saying that the family works in the restaurant business and are peace activists.
From Harris campaign to Trump
Abbas had initially turned to Kamala Harris’ electoral campaign with the appeal for peace, but he was left “disappointed” after he learned that she was not interested in changing America’s foreign policy. So, he turned to Boulos.
Abbas revealed that he met with representatives of Harris’ campaign in Detroit, demanding a ceasefire and easing the suffering of the Lebanese people. “The representatives informed us that Harris had no interest in changing the current foreign policy towards Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinians,” he said.
“We told them that relatives of the Lebanese diaspora in Dearborn have died in the war and that its continuation will lead to more suffering. But they did not offer any commitment or pledge to end the current policy,” he continued.
Trump's signed letter to the Lebanese community. (dearbornareacommunitymembers on instagram)
Trump campaign
So, Abbas shifted his efforts to the Trump campaign and made the same demands during meetings with Boulos. He relayed to him the fears of the Lebanese and Palestinian communities over their families in Lebanon and Gaza. Boulos was asked to be receptive of these demands and in return, Trump would be welcomed in the city.
Indeed, Boulos welcomed the calls for peace and prosperity in the Middle East, relaying them to Trump, “who agreed to our request that his pledge be in written form and signed by him.” The signed letter was sent days later.
“This was the first time in history that a president signs a pledge to his voters. We were delighted and he gave us hope that he would use his power and apply pressure to stop the war and reach peace,” added Abbas to Asharq Al-Awsat.
“Trump’s campaign sent us the signed letter and we showed it to the community here and it was released at our request. This would allow millions around the world to witness this pledge to work for peace,” he stressed.
Addressing the Lebanese community, Trump said in his letter: “During my Administration, we had peace in the Middle East, and we will have peace again very soon! I will fix the problems caused by Kamala Harris and Joe Biden and stop the suffering and destruction in Lebanon. I want to see the Middle East return to real peace, a lasting peace, and we will get it done properly so it doesn't repeat itself every 5 or 10 years!
“You have my word. I will preserve the equal partnership among all Lebanese communities. Your friends and family in Lebanon deserve to live in peace, prosperity, and harmony with their neighbors, and that can only happen with peace and stability in the Middle East.
“I look forward to working with the Lebanese community living in the United States of America to ensure the safety and security of the great people of Lebanon.
“Vote Trump for Peace!”
Trump’s welcome
The letter motivated the Lebanese and Arab communities to welcome Trump in Dearborn in early November.
Abbas made sure to mention the letter during a speech he made at the restaurant, Great Commoner, which is owned by brothers Hassan and Hussein, during the visit. He also called for putting an end to the way Muslims are portrayed in the media and for the stereotyping against them to end.
Addressing Trump during the visit, Abbas said: “Our families are suffering at home. The current administration has failed miserably in managing the war and in all humanitarian aspects.” He added that the administration has betrayed Arab Americans.
“We look forward to the Trump presidency with hope and envision a time when peace will flourish, especially in Lebanon and Palestine. I cannot stand in silence while Palestine is being erased. Please help us,” he continued.
“In stopping the bloodshed, no amount of money and power should be given priority over human life.”
For his part, Trump said at the meeting: “We have a great feeling about Lebanon, and I know a lot of people from Lebanon and we have to end all this, we want to have peace, I know a lot of the Lebanese people and the Muslim population, they love Trump and they had a good relationship with him. We want their votes, we are looking for their votes, and I believe we will get their votes.”
Trump’s speech
Abbas described Trump's speech at the meeting as “strong” and “serious.” He added: “We asked for peace, and Trump was enthusiastic and responsive. After this meeting, we noticed a decline in his statements about supporting Israel, and he confirmed his determination to achieve peace for the Lebanese and the Palestinians. He spoke about the intelligence of the Lebanese and knowing them as a peaceful people who yearn for peace and justice.”
“So, I handed him a commemorative plaque and quoted Ronald Reagan on it about peace, and this plaque will be in the Oval Office in the White House,” added Abbas.
He handed Trump an honorary shield on behalf of all peace lovers in Michigan, and quoted Reagan on it: “Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to deal with conflict by peaceful means.”
