Deal of the Century

US President Donald Trump is set to unveil the long-awaited Israel-Palestine peace plan amid intense criticism that Israel’s position has been embraced at the expense of the Palestinian cause. The so-called ‘Deal of the Century’ has been changed several times over the last two years and has been largely kept under wraps.

Trump has hosted Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his political rival Benny Gantz before unveiling the plan. Palestinians have already rejected the proposal before it was revealed. The peace deal does not envision a sovereign Palestinian state, dashing their hopes for an independent country. Palestinians leaders have also not been invited to Washington and US and Israeli leaders are deciding for them instead.

The Palestinian Authority has called on Arab and Muslims countries to boycott the peace plan. They have also threatened to withdraw from the landmark 1994 Oslo Accords. Nethanyahu has previously called Trump as the greatest friend Israel ever had. Trump even made the contentious decision to shift the US Embassy and recognized Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel.

The timing of the unveiling has also raised questions as both Trump and Nethanyahu face domestic problems and seek to divert attention from them. Trump is facing an impeachment trial in the US Senate where there has been scathing criticism on tying military aid to a foreign nation. Nethanyahu is facing graft charges and is struggling to set up a coalition government.

World powers have agreed that the conflict should be resolved bilaterally between Israelis and Palestinians including the status of Jerusalem. The Trump initiative will instead turn Israel’s occupation of Palestinian’s land into a permanent one. Israel has occupied East Jerusalem, West Bank, and the Gaza Strip since 1967 and built over 600,000 settlements considered illegal under international law. The world has failed to take notice and all UN resolutions have been negated.

Trump enraged Palestinians last year when he announced that US no longer considers Israeli settlements “inconsistent with international law”. The economic component of the deal unveiled in June last year called for $50 billion in international investment in Palestine and neigbouring countries over the next ten years. Palestinians cannot be lured to give up on their dream for an independent and sovereign state with financial incentives.

The international community should ensure that a unilateral peace plan is not forced upon the Palestinians at the expense of their independence. This will be another test case for the Muslim world to raise their voice; a peace initiative should not be implemented which does not have the participation of the Palestinians.