Netanyahu to meet with settlement leaders who support Trump peace plan
The meeting comes in light of the planned annexation of certain regions of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley, which was detailed in the "Deal of the Century".
By TAMAR URIEL-BEERIPRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu visits the Jordan Valley community of Mevo’ot Yericho in February 2020(photo credit: TOMER NEUBERG/FLASH90)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with settlement leaders on Sunday evening who support US President Donald Trump's "Deal of the Century," the plan for mapping out a possible solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.The meeting comes in light of the planned annexation of certain regions of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley, which was detailed in the "Deal of the Century" and which Netanyahu ordered to be carried out from July 1.The settlement leaders include Oranit Regional Council Head Nir Bartal, Alfei Menashe Regional Council Head Shay Rosensweig, Ariel Mayor Eli Shabiro, Elkana Regional Council Head Asaf Mintser, Har Adar Regional Council Head Haim Mendel Shaked, Megilot Regional Council Head Arie Cohen, Givat Ze'ev Regional Council Head Yossi Avrahami and Efrat Regional Council Head Oded Ravivi.The settlement leaders include several Regional Council heads – Nir Bartal of Oranit, Shay Rosensweig of Alfei Menashe, Asaf Mintser of Elkana, Haim Mendel Shaked of Har Adar, Arie Cohen of Megilot, Yossi Avrahami of Givat Ze'ev and Oded Ravivi of Efrat – as well as Ariel Mayor Eli Shabiro.Other settlement leaders did not approve as much of the peace plan proposed by Trump, and the approximately 70% of the West Bank which would eventually be transferred to the Palestinians. "We chose you," said Shomron Regional Council Head Yossi Dagan on Sunday morning in an interview with Army Radio, referring to Netanyahu. "You must decide if this is a national government led by you or Amir Peretz's government."The prime minister, on the other hand, has been widely supportive of the peace plan, slamming settler leader David Elhayani for his negative comments about Trump to Israel's Haaretz newspaper."It is unfortunate that instead of expressing gratitude, there are those who deny this friendship, which is unparalleled,” Netanyahu said.The prime minister has been attempting to convince settler leaders to support the plan, saying on Tuesday that "we are standing before a historic opportunity to apply sovereignty on the territory of Judea and Samaria."He additionally insisted that he must engage in negotiations with the Palestinians.Maariv, the sister publication of The Jerusalem Post, contributed to this report.
