Netanyahu Before Departure to US: Tuesday with Trump made history

On his way to Washington and a meeting with Trump ahead of the "Century Deal" announcement, Netanyahu congratulated Trump, saying he was a "huge friend" of Israel. "I go out to stand alongside a president who brings a plan that advances our vital interests," he said. Gantz will meet with the US President tomorrow

Netanyahu Before Departure to US: Tuesday with Trump made history

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, with his departure to Washington for a personal meeting with US President Dundlette Trump and the publication of details of the "century deal," that the two will "make history together" in the third Tuesday.

"Five years ago, I went to Congress in Washington because I had to face a plan brought by a US president because I believed it would jeopardize the interests of the State of Israel," said Netanyahu. "Today I am going to stand alongside a president who brings a plan that I believe promotes our vital interests."

"Trump is a huge friend of Israel. I talked to him countless times about our security and justice. Tomorrow I will meet with him and Tuesday together with him becomes history," Netanyahu concluded. In addition to the plane, apart from Minister Yariv Levin, there are also Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dramer and United States Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, Prime Minister Tzahi Braverman, and Prime Minister Ronan Peretz's office.

Netanyahu at government meeting today (Photo: Reuters)

PM Netanyahu at King's Meeting of the Prime Minister's Office, Jerusalem, January 26, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)

In the background of the intentions of publishing the "century deal", the level of tension in the Judea and Samaria was raised for fear of violent outbursts and even terrorist attacks. Security officials have made it clear that forces in the West Bank will not be reinforced at this time and, depending on the situation assessments they will make during the week, it will be decided whether or not to step up.

Gantz took off on a private flight through Zurich this morning, while Netanyahu took off at noon on a government plane. Both are expected to come to the White House, where besides Trump, the two will meet with the administration's peace team, which is led by President's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. For Gantz, this will be the first time he meets the president, who does not usually meet political leaders who are not heads of state. Gantz is expected to return to Israel by Tuesday, the date of the Knesset vote on the establishment of a committee to discuss Netanyahu's immunity.

At the same time, Netanyahu will return to the White House Tuesday for another meeting, and will likely face Trump in a solemn statement, while Gantz's meeting with the president is expected to be closed to the media. In the meantime, the White House is preparing to publish the plan formulated by the government in recent months to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While Palestinians have not been invited to the White House at all and are expected to reject the plan outright, in Israel it is likely to cause political turmoil given the timing of the advertising, just over a month into the election.

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Gantz (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Benny Gantz announces that he will travel to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington, Maccabiah Village, January 25, 2020 (Photo: Reuben Castro)

The Trump administration plan is expected to be the most friendly and generous program for Israel that has been in the history of political negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. The details leaked so far indicate that it will include recognition of Israeli sovereignty in all West Bank localities and annexation of large areas of Judea and Samaria, including the Jordan Valley, and will impose difficult to impossible conditions for recognition of a Palestinian state.

However, the plan is also expected to include Israeli concessions, such as evacuation of outposts and transferring neighborhoods to Palestinians in East Jerusalem. The administration has been working on the plan since the beginning of Trump's term, and has rejected it several times over the past year due to repeated elections in Israel. Ahead of the November presidential campaign in America, the government decided to publicize the plan, despite the upcoming scheduling in Israel and external intervention on such an explosive issue, and last week they invited Netanyahu and Gantz to meet with the president ahead of the announcement.

Initially, the White House planned to hold a triple and joint meeting of Trump, Netanyahu and Gantz, but over the weekend Gantz's request was met with a separate meeting. This will be Gantz's first time in the White House, and a very unusual sight of a non-head of state politician getting a meeting in the Oval Room. A little over a year ago, in March 2019, Gantz, along with Netanyahu, came to the AIPAC conference, requested a meeting at the White House and encountered a refusal. Former Air Force commander, Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, will be joined by Gantz, who in recent months advises him on the "century deal" and serves as an envoy on his behalf to the Americans, Yoram Turbovich, who was the leader of the Blue and White negotiations in recent coalition talks, and Maayan Cohen Israeli, His headquarters.