Where is Israeli sovereignty going, what is the price Israel will pay, and why is Trump's peace plan better than its predecessors? • All answers to the essential questions about the historical move

Since US President Donald Trump presented the vision of peace last January, there has been a lot of news and rumors about the possibility of Israel exercising its sovereignty in parts of Judea and Samaria. According to the coalition agreements, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may submit the decision to the government for approval from July 1. Now with the swearing-in of the Netanyahu-Gantz government, the countdown has begun for the historic step. What exactly is this? We tried to make some order.

White House history: Trump and Netanyahu present century plan // Photo: White House spokesmen

What does it mean to apply sovereignty?

Since the Six Day War, Israel defines the territories of Judea and Samaria as controversial. Many in the world define them as occupied territory. Applying sovereignty means making the territory Israeli.

How is sovereignty applied?

Basically, this is done through a government statement and / or a law of the Knesset, which states that the laws of the State of Israel in the territories in question are binding laws. Israeli law will replace the Jordanian, British or Ottoman law that is still in force in these areas. Another step in applying sovereignty is the announcement by Israel that the territory is no longer controversial and has become Israeli.

Where does sovereignty apply?

The Trump plan allows Israel to transfer 30 percent of all Judea and Samaria territory. An Israeli-American committee has been working on drawing accurate maps for about three months. As far as is known, sovereignty will be declared on the wide Jordan Valley and all Israeli settlements (settlements) in the Valley, Samaria, Benjamin, Gush Etzion and Mount Hebron. The roads leading to localities will also be defined as part of Israel.

Is Sovereignty Good for Israel?

Compared to maps proposed by previous governments (95% withdrawal), the Trump map (70% withdrawal) is undoubtedly preferable. Among the veterans of the defense establishment, there is agreement that a permanent Israeli presence in the Jordan Valley must be part of every arrangement. An overwhelming majority of the Israeli public and decision makers support the course. However, there are concerns that sovereignty will undermine peace arrangements with Jordan and Egypt (see below).

More on:

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• Ashkenazi: "The Trump Plan Is a Historical Opportunity; Peace with Our Neighbors - Property"

Does Israel accept sovereignty for free?

No. Israel agrees to give up 70 percent of Judea and Samaria - a withdrawal that many in the public do not see very well. Israel agrees to exchange territories that will significantly increase the Gaza Strip, at the expense of its sovereign territory in the Negev. Israel is relinquishing a future claim for all the remaining territory in the heart of historic Israel - so if the plan is implemented, it will end the vision of a complete Land of Israel. Israel agrees to establish a Palestinian state in the vacant area, as well as the establishment of Palestinian beer in East Jerusalem, including an American embassy. In addition, Israel undertakes to release all Palestinian prisoners without compensation from the prisons - except those who murdered or tried to murder. Equally important, Israel agrees to the four-year freeze of many of the communities in Judea and Samaria.

If so, what Trump plan is better than its predecessors?

Unlike the previous peace plans, the Trump vision presents all the transformations that the Palestinians will be given in a long line of root reconciliation measures that they must take. Among other things, the Palestinian Authority must stop any kind of incitement against Israel, stop paying salaries to terrorists and their families, abolish terrorism, withdraw claims from the Hague Tribunal, develop an advanced and open legal system and allow freedom of the press and other democratic rights. Only after all these steps happen will Israel have to do its part, or as US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman put it: "You will have to live with a Palestinian state if the Palestinians become Canadians. And when the Palestinians become Canadians, all the problems with them will go away. "

The sovereignty will also wait until "the Palestinians become Canadians"?

No. At the peace vision ceremony, President Trump said that once the mapping committee finishes its work, "Immediate recognition can be achieved ... The United States will recognize Israeli sovereignty on the ground that my vision provides to be part of the State of Israel." According to American Ambassador Friedman in an interview with "Israel Today", too, the US can take the step "in a few weeks".

Will there be sovereignty any time soon?

It's up to us. On Prime Minister Netanyahu's side, all preparations are being made to implement the move, and if he does, President Trump will give him the green light.

Isn't that a Trump decision?

Of course, he can always press the brakes, but the US president has already given his approval. Around him are many people who will support every move that Israel takes, such as Vice President Mike Pence, Head of Staff Mark Maddaus, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Ambassador Friedman and others. Jared Kushner will have significant weight, but it is currently centered on rescuing the US economy from the Corona crisis and doubts he will be free to engage with the peace vision soon. In addition, beyond his commitment to Israel, the president has a political interest in implementing sovereignty, as the hard core of his Christian voters strongly supports the course. The election will be held this fall and it is assumed that by then Trump will want to make the move.

Why on the Left oppose sovereignty?

There are risks, of course, because every step connected with the Palestinian arena involves a lot of sensitivity. If sovereignty is applied, there may be global warming. The Kingdom of Jordan threatens to cool ties with Israel, and at the very least restore the ambassador. Western European countries, and probably the EU, will be outraged and expected to punish Israel with economic tools. Clearly, there will also be appeals to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. So Israel may promote important interests in the field, but run the risk of simple reactions from the region's countries and the international sector. 

So what did we gain?

Implementation of sovereignty will allow, for the first time since the establishment of the state, to establish the borders of Israel. Although we will lose a large part of the territories of the West Bank, and although we will freeze some of the localities and enclose them, it will be clear to us, the region and the world, what the boundaries of the Israeli state are. The evacuation of localities requires the Palestinians to become Canadians and allocates a positive response to them for four years, and if their refusal continues throughout the period, it may be that in four years, the Trump administration will allow Israel to add more territories.

Are the Arabs really so angry?

No. The Arab world pays a high lip service to the Palestinians, although in fact they are quite tired of it. Networks are missing video and speakers criticizing the Palestinians. Many in Jordan, too, believe that Israeli sovereignty in the Valley is actually good for the kingdom, only that they should not say so for fear of the street. The other Arab states, including Egypt, have welcomed the Trump plan and are not currently joining the threat chorus King Abdullah.

Will Jordan or Egypt cancel peace agreements?

Such a scenario now seems clearly improbable. Egypt does not really address the possibility of sovereignty. In Jordan, the king did talk about a "clash" with Israel and would probably return the ambassador to Amman and possibly suspend the gas purchase agreement. But canceling the peace agreement will hurt Jordan more than Israel, and will also spark American outrage. So the King, in his usual way, will probably try to maneuver between the angry street and Israel and the US.

Can the procedure be deployed over time?

No. Americans want the course of sovereignty to be done all at once.

How will it end?

By the end of the summer we will know the answer.