The Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz took off for Washington early Sunday morning for a meeting with US President Donald Trump to discuss a soon-to-be-released peace plan for the Middle East.
At Ben Gurion Airport Gantz was asked whether he will support the release of the plan now or ask Trump to push off until after elections, Gantz said, according to Kan News: “I’ll hear from him about the plan and exchange views, but what is done behind closed doors will stay behind closed doors.”
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Gantz also said Trump’s peace plan would come to constitute a “meaningful milestone,” setting out the path for the conflicting sides in the Middle East “to march toward a regional, historic deal.”
The plan, which Trump said he would release on Tuesday, is expected to strongly favor Israel. This “deal of the century” is unlikely to grant international support if it is seen as undermining the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
The Palestinians already reject Trump’s administration peace plan before its release.
After Gantz received the first invitation surprised pundits and others Saturday night when he announced that he would go to Washington, albeit separate from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after the two were invited for a White House meeting last week.
Gantz is scheduled to meet Trump on Monday, while Netanyahu, who is slated to leave for Washington later Sunday, will meet with the US leader on the peace proposal on Tuesday.
According to Channel 12, which not mention any source, the peace plan allows Israel to annex all West Bank settlements and gives sovereignty throughout Jerusalem.
According to the report, the plan also offers recognition of Palestinian statehood, provided the Palestinians demilitarize Gaza and recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Last week Gantz denied the prospect of meeting Trump alongside Netanyahu refusing to come off as a bit player in the political game.
But appearing on live TV Saturday, On Saturday appearing on TV Gantz said he would meet Trump Monday “as the head of the biggest party in Israel.”
Gantz would “return to Israel in order to lead, from up close, the discussions on removing Benjamin Netanyahu’s immunity,” in the Knesset.
On Tuesday, Knesset weighing Netanyahu’s request for parliamentary protection from prosecution in the three corruption cases for which he has been charged with bribery fraud and breach of trust.
Netanyahu will meet trump in Washington on Monday and Tuesday.
