The Trump administration starts questioning whether its support for Netanyahu’s annexation ambitions do more harm than good; Israeli right slowly realizes that annexation also means a Palestinian state
ynet
U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which was so intensively constructed and so warmly welcomed by both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz upon its reveal, has been rather sidelined during the coronavirus epidemic.
Now, as the virus’ presence in the region declines, the so-called “Deal of the Century” has returned to Israeli, American, and Middle East discourse – and it may soon prove to be a trap.
During a Likud faction meeting this week, Netanyahu said Israel is set to extend its sovereignty over West Bank settlements starting July. Even Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi talked of the plan’s historical importance, but on the very same day the Yesha Council – an umbrella organization of municipal councils of Jewish settlements in the West Bank – rejected what they called, “a dangerous outline.”
Meanwhile, as the U.S. sees over 100,000 coronavirus victims, and over 10 million Americans have become unemployed since the beginning of the crisis – Trump is vulnerable ahead of the November election and some in Washington have started questioning whether Netanyahu’s annexation ambitions are even worth it.
Trump’s rather lackluster candidate, Joe Biden, opposes annexation vehemently and calls on Israel to “stop its threats.” The United States’ upcoming elections are less about Biden and more about Trump’s legacy, and the economy always plays an important part in voters’ final decision. Although a sitting president always has an advantage when citizens go to the polls, those who failed economically always find it hard to return to the White House: Jimmy Carter lost to Ronald Reagan, George Bush – who won the Gulf War – lost to Bill Clinton.