The US administration has summoned in recent a number of important figures in the Middle East, including Israelis and Palestinians, for talks on the consequences of Washington’s publishing of its peace plan, known as the “deal of the century.”
Informed sources confirmed that one of these figures was former Israeli chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot.
He participated in a three-hour meeting with US envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt. The talks were attended by 10 experts in the Israeli-Palestinian issue, most of whom were involved in the peace process during the terms of former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
He warned the White House about a danger of an escalation in the West Bank in the near future and recommended that the Trump government take this into account in light of its intention to present its peace plan in the coming weeks.
He claimed that the situation is sensitive and volatile for many reasons, including cuts in US aid to the Palestinian security services, the economic crisis due to cuts in US aid to the Palestinian Authority, and the PA decision to refuse the tax money which Israel collects on its behalf. The decision was sparked by Tel Aviv’s announcement that it will withhold part of the money since it is being transferred to detainees and martyrs’ families.
According to Channel 13, five sources confirmed that Eisenkot indicated the situation in the West Bank could explode before, during, or after the US peace plan.
“You have to take this into consideration. Once this demon comes out of the bottle, it will take five years to get it back in,” he warned.
He added that whether the US peace plan is put into place or not, steps should be taken to stabilize the situation on the ground for the best of both sides.
He recommended to Greenblatt to re-allocate the funding to the Palestinian security forces, take steps to improve the economic situation, the infrastructure and education sector.
Sources close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that Greenblatt responded that the Trump government is aware of the risks but intends to publish the peace plan in the coming weeks.
They added that the US peace plan includes an item that supports the establishment of Israeli sovereignty over all settlements on the West Bank, despite their knowledge of the Palestinian position regarding that.
US officials have said that the peace plan will be revealed after the holy fasting month of Ramadan, which ends in June.
