Greenblatt to speak with Gantz and Netanyahu about 'Deal of the Century'
Netanyahu said in the last week of the election campaign that US President Donald Trump’s peace deal will be released within days of Tuesday’s election.
By HERB KEINONJASON GREENBLATT, US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, arriving in Jerusalem in March.(photo credit: REUTERS)
US mediator Jason Greenblatt arrived in Israel on Thursday and is expected to meet on Friday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White head Benny Gantz.The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Greenblatt will be meeting Netanyahu. A spokeswoman for Gantz, when asked whether the US envoy requested a meeting, was less definitive. “[Gantz] is happy to meet with any representative of the United States government if and when such requests are made,” the spokeswoman said.Netanyahu said in the last week of the campaign that US President Donald Trump’s peace deal will be released within days of Tuesday’s election. The Jerusalem Post has learned, however, that there are voices within the administration saying that the plan will not be released until after a government is formed.Greenblatt told Hamodia in an interview published on Wednesday that the administration decided not to roll out the plan before the election, but that it is still not clear if it will be released during or after coalition formation.“It’s too soon to tell,” Greenblatt said. “How will the election affect the plan? Our plan is different than what people have been talking about for so many years. We think we listened very hard to Israelis, Palestinians, the region – just about every expert.”The White House announced earlier this month that Greenblatt will be stepping down after the release of the plan. Last week, however, Greenblatt hinted at an event in New York that he may be staying on even after the launch.“Although I have announced my departure, I am trying to stay until the plan is launched,” Greenblatt said. “If the plan is launched soon, I will stay. And if the plan is launched and we get traction, I hope to stay longer, and I have my family’s support for it.”
