Weekly Commentary: Consider These Two Critical Excerpts from Trump's Plan
Dr. Aaron Lerner 4 June, 2020
Let's walk through two critical excerpts from Trump's Plan:
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Peace to Prosperity
A Vision to Improve the Lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People
January 2020
...
SECTION TWO THE APPROACH
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THE QUESTION OF TERRITORY, SELF-DETERMINATION AND SOVEREIGNTY
...
Sovereignty is an amorphous concept that has evolved over time. With growing
interdependence, each nation chooses to interact with other nations by
entering into agreements that set parameters essential to each nation. The
notion that sovereignty is a static and consistently defined term has been
an unnecessary stumbling block in past negotiations. Pragmatic and
operational concerns that effect security and prosperity are what is most
important.
...
SECTION TWENTY-TWO CONDUCT DURING NEGOTIATIONS
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During the peace negotiations, the parties are expected to do the following:
THE STATE OF ISRAEL
In areas of the West Bank that are not contemplated by this Vision to be
part of the State of Israel, Israel will not:
1. Build any new settlement towns, expand existing settlements or advance
plans to build in those areas;
2. Expand any of the Israeli enclaves referred to in Section 4 or advance
plans to expand those enclaves in those areas beyond their current
footprint;
3. Demolish any structure existing as of the date of this Vision and secure
the necessary legislative and/or legal decisions to ensure such an outcome.
This moratorium does not preclude demolition of any illegal construction,
where such construction was initiated following the release of this Vision.
This moratorium does not apply to the demolition of any structure that
poses a safety risk, as determined by the State of Israel, or punitive
demolitions following acts of terrorism.
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A few observations:
#1. By asserting that "Sovereignty is an amorphous concept" and that
"Pragmatic and operational concerns that effect security and prosperity are
what is most important.", the plan sets the stage for the pragmatic
conclusion that for the purposes of a Palestinian state, the "sovereignty"
concept is achieved via autonomy.
#2. The Jewish building freeze which applies to "areas of the West Bank that
are not contemplated by this Vision to be part of the State of Israel" is
LIMITED to the period of "peace negotiations."
#3. Israel retains the right to demolish "any structure that poses a safety
risk, as determined by the State of Israel, or punitive demolitions
following acts of terrorism."
#4. Israel has the right to demolish "any illegal construction, where such
construction was initiated following the release of this Vision."
So Israel can demolish ANYTHING built illegally by the Palestinians in Area
C after January 2020 as well as ANYTHING built illegally by the Palestinians
in Area C before January 2020 that it deems a "safety risk"
________________________________________
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Arab-Israeli relations
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