Gantz changed his stance on the Centennial Plan - following messages from the U.S. government

A blue-and-white chairman said he was "looking forward to the publication" of the century deal, contrary to what he said two weeks ago, so he claimed it would be "the political intervention" in Israel. Walla! NEWS learned that US government officials expressed their displeasure at Previous statement: "Americans were very angry"

Gantz changed his stance on the Centennial Plan - following messages from the U.S. government

The change of public opinion of Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz regarding the publication of the century deal came after US government officials expressed their disapproval over his previous statement on the subject over the past two weeks - Walla has learned!

About two weeks ago, Gantz came out at a faction meeting against the administration's plan for peace even before the elections, saying it would be a "political intervention" in Israel. These things were said a day after he met with the White House special envoy, Avi Berkowitz, who came to visit Israel. White-blue officials told Walla! NEWS that "Americans were very angry that his statement was made publicly."

Today (Tuesday), Gantz made a statement on a tour of the Jordan Valley where he said things in a different spirit. When asked about the US government's intention to publicize Donald Trump's century deal, he said: "I hope President Trump comes along and publish the program. It's been a few weeks. A lot of dramatic things are happening in the Middle East, I look forward to publishing the program."

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He reiterated his opposition to the publication of the program. Gantz with Ya'alon (Photo: Elad Malka)

Benny Gantz and Moshe Boogie Ya'alon White Brush, Tour of the Scrolls in the Northern Dead Sea, January 21, 2020 (Photo: Elad Malka)

Inside the White House, there are discussions about the date of publication of the plan, which has been postponed for more than a year due to the political situation in Israel. The person who is pushing for the release of the program now is United States Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who is considered very close to Netanyahu.

In addition to his remarks regarding the publication of the century deal, Gantz stated that he would work to apply sovereignty in the Jordan Valley after elections. This is in coordination with the international community, while the right is pushing for unilateral annexation. Gantz, who toured the area together with Talmud chairman Moshe Ya'alon, explained that "we see this area of ​​land as an integral part of the Land of Israel."

Government officials conveyed messages expressing dissatisfaction with the Gantz statement. Trump (Photo: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump at the Economic Summit in Davos, Switzerland (Photo: Reuters)

Gantz's remarks were said in the background of statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud that they would annex the Jordan Valley after the elections, and the pressure on the right to do so even before the elections. The public debate on annexation has in recent days revealed controversies in blue-and-white about annexation of the Valley: While the right-wing faction of Tel Aviv supports unilateral annexation, its future is only supported during coordination with the international community.

In response, Netanyahu called on Gantz to return "More Tonight" to him regarding a Knesset vote on applying sovereignty in the Jordan Valley. "Why wait after the elections if sovereignty can be applied to the Jordan Valley already broadly in the Knesset? Benny Gantz, I look forward to your response this evening, unless Ahmad Tibi gives you a veto," Netanyahu said.

In response, Gantz tweeted on Twitter: "Bibi. First we will discuss immunity. Then we will manage the application of sovereignty." Then he added another tweet in which he wrote to Netanyahu: "Instead of annexation, you are dealing with years of pledging. Try not to lie once and take a tip: You can apply Israeli law to a decision in a two-hour government without any Knesset debate. We'll see you." Netanyahu answered in a tweet of his own, in which he wrote: "I am delighted that you finally decided to support my initiative to apply Israeli law on the Jordan Valley and the Northern Dead Sea. I look forward to your full support of you and Blue and White during this historic event." He added that "I will test you very soon."

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Joint Listing Chairman Ayman Odeh said in response to Gantz: "The citizens of the country deserve hope and not imitation - that is how a prime minister is not replaced. Annexation is the elimination of any chance of democracy and peace. You've probably forgotten that there is life after the campaign, too. The pathetic attempt to scramble a few votes from the right is not worth the destruction of the future of us all. "

In addition, Labor-Bridge-Meretz chairman Amir Peretz said he "expects a white paintbrush not to be drawn into the extreme right-wing agenda led by Smutrich. The future of the Jordan Valley should be determined as part of a comprehensive negotiation and arrangement, with an emphasis on Israel's essential security arrangements. "Peretz added that" blue and white must not fall into the right traps. This is just one of countless other pitfalls to come in the election campaign. "

On the other hand, Israeli House Speaker Avigdor Lieberman wrote on Twitter that "the Jordan Valley annexation law was tabled by the Israel Betanu faction on December 2, 2019, so the dispute between Netanyahu and Gantz today is a dialogue between two moderators on the radio talk show" All Talk. " Former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon also took part in the debate, writing on Twitter: "Bibi, Halas with the spins. For the past ten years you have not thought it appropriate to annex the valley during a one-sided. After all, you were ready to relinquish the hatch in discussion with Kerry in 2014. "Ya'alon added that" your personal political predicament led you to announce the annexation spin, in miserable times, and hampered the prospect of continuing to extend the lease of Nahari enclaves and the Horn of Jordan. "

"Why wait for the election?" Netanyahu (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jacob Litzman at a Government Meeting, January 19, 2020 (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky, Paul Photographers)

Peace Now, Gantz said, "it's time to stop lying to the public." A statement from the organization said: "The annexation of the Baka is the opposite of peace and security, it will damage relations with Jordan and Egypt and will drop the ground under any future agreement with the Palestinians. This is a dangerous and irresponsible election statement fueled by the delusional idea that the international community opposes. The right and the conflict management policy in place of the same thing. "

David Alhaini, head of the Jordan Valley Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, responded to Gantz's statement that the valley should be annexed in coordination with the international community, as opposed to unilateral annexation, saying: "If we were awaiting the approval of the international community, neither of us Been here today. " Al-Zahini attacked Gantz, saying that "Gantz's words are a clear expression of lack of leadership. He supported the same international community that demands to mark the products of Jewish farmers, the same international community that prosecutes us in The Hague. The international community is a community of hypocrites that harms Israel every day. And in the Jordan Valley in particular. When you want to do and when you don't want to find excuses and make up irrelevant obstacles.