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Donald Trump Unveils Middle East Peace Plans; President Trump: I Was Not Elected To Do Small Things; Donald Trump: Our Plan Makes The Region Safer And More Prosperous; U.S. President: America Is Prepared To Work With All Parties On Our Vision; Donald Trump: Today Israel Takes A Big Step Toward Peace. Aired 12-1p ET
Aired January 28, 2020 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Welcome back to what is an extended CONNECT THE WORLD show this evening. Abu Dhabi time 9 p.m. We are live from
our Middle East Programming Hub. We are just moments away from the White House's big showcase of its much - long awaited plan to bring peace to this
region of the Middle East.
President Trump alongside Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will unveil it. Palestinians will have no part in this big reveal. They are
already describing the Trump plan as dead on arrival, but Mr. Trump himself calls it the deal of the century.
And just worth noting, as you look around this room, we have as I'm sure they would describe themselves the great and the good of the Republican
Party here certainly some Senators who are next hour going to be listening to testimony on President Trump's impeachment trial.
The room is full, the guests, of course, awaiting the arrival of Ivanka's father, the U.S. President, Donald Trump, and the Israeli Leader, Benjamin
Netanyahu. It is 7: pm out in Ramallah, same time in Jerusalem, bang on midday in D.C. as I say, it's comfortably here well into the evening here,
9: at night in Abu Dhabi.
We are still connecting your world this hour as you would expect us to do. Let's bring in the team that we have found out across the world, Oren
Liebermann joining us in Jerusalem, Sam in Ramallah on the West Bank, Jeremy Diamond in Washington and Nic Robertson is in London.
And perhaps Jeremy, let's get to you first, just moments away from where you are at present, a room that is beginning to take its seats for the
unveiling, the first public release of this plan to end a decades old conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. I know that we have
very few details. There a sort of broad structure as understood at this point?
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, first I think it's important to look at those pictures that we're seeing of this room and who
is there. Kind it tells you everything you need to know about this plan. Beyond the fact that the President will be presenting this alongside the
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority and any Palestinian officials nowhere near this room.
But you also have there in the front row next to the podium you can see Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam Adelson, two mega Republican Donors,
huge supporters of Israel, a very right wing supporters of Israel, and also you see a number of Republican Senators, you see, you know, the key members
of this peace team. All of the people who are here are really coming in from the very strongly pro-Israeli perspective and often from a right wing
Israeli perspective.
And that is kind of the foundational point here to understanding what the peace plan is that we are about to see the details of for the first time.
And that is that by every expectation this is going to be a peace plan that is going to be heavily skewed to the Israeli side and to the right wing
side of Israeli politics. That is certainly our expectation.
Look, the Trump Administration has repeatedly signaled that there would be some positive aspects of this plan for the Palestinians, we heard the
President of the United States yesterday saying that he believes the Palestinians will over time support this plan, but at the same time we
heard the President quite circumspect yesterday on whether or not this is a plan that will gain any traction, saying perhaps it will, maybe it won't,
but either way he says that he can essentially live with that.
The big question here I think is not just whether or not this is going to be a peace plan that can actually be agreed to by the two parties, but to
what extent does this actually change the situation on the ground? Fundamentally alter the Israeli-Palestinian peace process for years to come
regardless of whether or not this peace plan actually gets off the ground.
And that is because we could very well see a plan here that will give so much to the Israelis and really diminish those demands of the Palestinians
that it will fundamentally alter what the middle ground is here, what the middle ground is for Israelis for something that both sides can ultimately
agree to.
[12:05:00]
DIAMOND: So I think that's kind of a key thing to watch for as we prepare for the President.
ANDERSON: Sure. You make some very good points. Let me get out to Ramallah in the West Bank. Sam, Mr. Trump says other nations in the Middle East are
backing the deal. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Many of the Arab nations have agreed to it, they like it they think it's great, they think it are a
big start. I think it's a big start, too. I think it's a fantastic thing if we can pull it off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, over time he says he believes the Palestinians will support this plan. The story on the ground it seems is very different. I wonder
just before we get back to the White House what you think to this, if not now so far as the Palestinians are concerned, when?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think that is the issue that this plan really raises. Is this plan simply an end state
reflecting strongly the preexisting Israeli wish list and, therefore, there's nothing for the Palestinians to negotiate towards, because a great
deal of this seems to have been taken off the table in terms as far as they're concerned the status of Jerusalem, the status of Palestinian
refugees from 1947, '48 and '67 which has in the past been broadly accepted to be a largely symbolic issue, but something that the Palestinians could
afford to give up and be seem to be making concessions without some catastrophic collapse of the peace process.
The issue really for the Palestinians and for their supporters around the Arab world is I think - and it was point made to Nic Robertson in that
exclusive interview with the Saudi Foreign Minister, will this produce a two-state solution with a viable Palestinian state? Now, the viability of
that state will be hotly argued, particularly if it ends up with no international borders, perhaps any opportunity to create or write its own
foreign policy, but that all remains to be seen from the plan.
And I think that will be where Donald Trump is looking for support, particularly from the Gulf Nation, Saudi Arabia in particular, for this
plan. In the past they've indicated privately that perhaps a level of frustration with the Palestinian leadership might mean that they would be
prepared to stump up some of the bonus money that the Palestinians could see if they did sign up to some kind of Trump Administration-inspired plan,
but that would be very badly stymied indeed if there was any loss of the Jordanian ownership effectively of the temple mount location which is the -
which is held in the custodian of which remains the Jordanian King.
But even if that doesn't come through, they've got to be very careful, particularly in these monarchies, the authoritarian systems around the
Middle East that they are not seen to abandon the principles that are popular on the streets among the ordinary people, even if there's a degree
of frustration with the Palestinian leadership in the palaces and government residencies. Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes, Sam Kiley is in Ramallah in the West Bank. These images are of a room at the White House, packed to the rafters, waiting those gathered
waiting for the arrival of the U.S. President and indeed the Israeli Prime Minister and the - the first public release of the details of the plan.
Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and Senior Advisor to the U.S. President, the plan to end decades of conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
And I have to say this room, I mean, it's a who's who of Trump sort of extended family and advisers. I think we will just stay on these pictures
for you, if we will, and bring up the sound because I think this is the arrival of the U.S. President.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Prime Minister of the State of Israel.
(PLAYING "HAIL TO THE CHIEF")
TRUMP: Thank you.
[12:10:00]
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: Thank you very much. Thank you. Today Israel takes a big step towards peace. Young people across the Middle East are ready for a more
hopeful future and governments throughout the region are realizing that terrorism and Islamic Extremism is everyone's common enemy.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting with both the Prime Minister of Israel and a man that's working very hard to become the Prime Minister of
Israel in the longest running election of all time, Bennie Gantz of the blue and white party and both leaders joined me to express their support
for this effort, proving that the state of Israel looking for peace and that peace transcends politics by any measure, un-measurable, that's what
they want.
On my first trip overseas as President I visited the holy land of Israel. I was deeply moved and amazed by what this small country had achieved in the
face of overwhelming odds and never ending threats. The state of Israel comprises only a minuscule amount of land in the Middle East and yet it has
become a thriving center of democracy, innovation, culture and commerce.
Israel is a light unto the world. The hearts and history of our people are woven together. The land of Israel is an ancient home, a sacred place of
worship and a solemn promise to the Jewish people that we will never again repeat history's darkest hour.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: During my trip to Israel I also met with Palestinian President Abbas in Bethlehem. I was saddened by the fate of the Palestinian people. They
deserve a far better life. They deserve the chance to achieve their extraordinary potential. Palestinians have been trapped in a cycle of
terrorism, poverty and violence, exploited by those seeking to use them as pawns to advance terrorism and extremism.
I returned from my visit determined to find a constructive path and it's got to be a very powerful path forward in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
To further this effort I also met with President Abbas at the White House, forging peace between Israelis and Palestinians may be the most difficult
challenge of all.
All prior administrations from President Lyndon Johnson have tried and bitterly failed, but I was not elected to do small things or shy away from
big problems.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: It's been a long and very arduous process to arrive at this moment. On Sunday I delivered to Prime Minister Netanyahu my vision for peace,
prosperity and a brighter future for the Israelis and Palestinians. This vision for peace is fundamentally different from past proposals. In the
past even the most well-intentioned plans were light on factual details and heavy on conceptual frame works.
By contrast, our plan is 8 pages and it is the most detailed proposal ever put forward by far. As I have seen throughout my long career as a
dealmaker, complex problems require nuanced fact-based remedies. That is why our proposal provides precise technical solutions to make Israelis,
Palestinians and the region safer and much more prosperous.
My vision presents a win-win opportunity for both sides, a realistic two- state solution that resolves the risk of Palestinian statehood to Israel's security.
[12:15:00]
TRUMP: Today Israel has taken a giant step toward peace. Yesterday Prime Minister Netanyahu informed me that he is willing to endorse the vision as
the basis for direct negotiations and I will say the general also endorsed and very strongly with the Palestinians a historic breakthrough.
Likewise, we have really a situation having to do with a race that is taking place right now. It will end and we have the support and it's very
important to say this, of both parties and almost all people in Israel. They want peace and they want peace badly.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: This is its first time Israel has authorized the release of a conceptual map illustrating the territorial compromises it's willing to
make for the cause of peace. And they have gone a long way. This is an unprecedented and highly significant development Mr. Prime minister, thank
you for having the courage to take this bold step forward.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: Thank you. Thank you. Bibi, we have a lot of powerful people in this room, a lot of people who can help make this work so that's quite a
thunderous applause. Thank you very much. Thank you. We will form a joint committee with Israel to convert the conceptual map into a more detailed
and calibrated rendering so that recognition can be immediately achieved.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: We will also work to create a contiguous territory within the future Palestinian state, for when the conditions for statehood are met, including
the firm rejection of terrorism.
9APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: Under this vision Jerusalem will remain Israel's undivided, very important, undivided capital.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: But that's no big deal because I've already done that for you, right? We've already done that, but that's okay. It's going to remain that
way. And the United States will recognize Israeli sovereignty over the territory that my vision provides to be part of the state of Israel. Very
important.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: And crucially the proposed transition to a two-state solution will present no incremental security risk to the state of Israel whatsoever.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: We will not allow a return to the days of bloodshed, bus bombings, nightclub attacks and relentless terror. It won't be allowed. Peace
requires compromise, but we will never ask Israel to compromise its security can't do that.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: As everyone knows I have done a lot for Israel, moving the United States Embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing--
(APPLAUSE)
[12:20:00]
TRUMP: --recognizing the Golan Heights, and frankly perhaps most importantly getting out of the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: There is a lot of spirit in this room. It's true. You don't see it often. You don't see it often. Therefore, it is only reasonable that I have
to do a lot for the Palestinians or it just wouldn't be fair. Don't clap for that, okay, but it's true. It wouldn't be fair. I want this deal to be
a great deal for the Palestinians it has to be.
Today's agreement is a historic opportunity for the Palestinians to finally achieve an independent state of their very own. After 7 years of little
progress this could be the last opportunity they will ever have, unless, for a lot of reasons, we will they ever have a team like we have right now.
We have a team of people that love the United States and they love Israel and they are very smart and very, very committed, from your Ambassador,
David Friedman
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: --to Jason and Avi and Jared
(APLAUSE)
TRUMP: And they are all great deal makers and they also understand the other side and they want the other side to do well because that's the sign
of a great deal, and they understand that, and I just appreciate all of the hard work you've put in and so many of your other friends and, of course,
our great Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: Whoa. That's impressive. That was very impressive, Mike. That reporter couldn't have done too good a job on you yesterday. I think you
did a good job on her, actually. That's good. Thank you, mike. Great. Very - are you running for Senate? I guess the answer is no after that, huh?
They all want him to. Kansas, great state they want him to, but you're doing a great job, don't move.
The Palestinian people have grown distrustful after years of unfulfilled promises so true. I know they're ready to escape their tragic past and
realize a great destiny but we must break free of yesterdays failed approaches. This map will more than double the Palestinian territory and
provide a Palestinian capital in Eastern Jerusalem where America will proudly open an Embassy.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: No Palestinians or Israelis will be uprooted from their homes.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: Israel will work closely with a wonderful person, a wonderful man, the King of Jordan, to ensure that the status quo of the temple mount is
preserved and strong measures are taken to ensure that all Muslims who wish to visit peacefully and pray at the Al Aqua Mosque will be able to do so.
This is a major importance and this is a major importance and at the same time our visual will deliver massive commercial investment of $5 billion
into the new Palestinian State. You have many countries that want to partake in this and many are surrounding. They all want this to happen
virtually every one of them wants this to happen and I think Bibi you know that very well you're going to have tremendous support from your neighbors
and beyond your neighbors.
Over the next ten years if executed well 1 million great new Palestinian jobs will be created, their poverty rate will be cut in half and their
poverty rate is unacceptable now and only getting worse. Their GDP will double and triple and much needed hope, joy, opportunity and prosperity
will finally arrive for the Palestinian people.
Our vision will end the cycle of Palestinian dependency upon charity and foreign aid. They will be doing phenomenally all by themselves. They are a
very, very capable people.
(APPLAUSE)
[12:25:00]
TRUMP: And we will help by empowering the Palestinians to thrive on their own. Palestinians will be able to seize the new future with dignity, self-
sufficiency and national pride. To ensure a successful Palestinian state we are asking the Palestinians to meet the challenges of peaceful coexistence.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: This includes adopting basic laws enshrining human rights, protecting against financial and political corruption, stopping the malign
activities of Hamas, Islamic jihad and other enemies of peace. Ending the incitement of hatred against Israel so important and permanently halting
the financial compensation to terrorists.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: And perhaps most importantly my vision gives the Palestinians the time needed to rise up and meet the challenges of statehood. I sent a
letter today to President Abbas. I explained to him that the territory allocated for his new state will remain open and undeveloped for a period
of four years.
During this time Palestinians can use all appropriate deliberation to study the deal, negotiate with Israel, achieve the criteria for statehood and
become a truly independent and wonderful state. President Abbas, I want you to know that if you choose the path to peace, America and many other
countries we will be there - we will be there to help you in so many different ways and we will be there every step of the way. We will be there
to help.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: In other words, for the first time in many, many decades I can say it will work. It's going to work. If they do this, it will work. Your
response to this historic opportunity will show the world to what extent you are ready to lead the Palestinian people to statehood. The Middle East
is changing rapidly.
On my first trip abroad as President I traveled to Saudi Arabia to discuss our shared priorities with the 54 leaders of the Muslim and Arab countries.
I made clear that all civilized nations share the same goals, stamping out extremism, creating opportunity for the region's youth and we have to take
care of the region's youth.
The region's youth is growing up with no hope. We have to take care of the region's youth and existing in harmony with one's neighbors. Since that
time immense progress has been made. A growing number of nations have taken strong stands against terrorism and radicalizations. You see it.
Thanks to the courage of U.S. forces, the ISIS territorial caliphate 1 percent, not 95 percent, not 99 or any other percent, 1 percent of the
caliphate, ISIS is destroyed and its savage leader Al Baghdadi is now dead.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: And I want to thank - we have some of our great Senators and Congressmen and women here and I want to thank you all for the tremendous
help. Thank you very much. Jim, Ted, everybody our leader. Leader, thank you. Mark, thank you. Great people. These are great people. They work so
hard and they love this country.
The Iranian regime is isolated and weakened greatly. We eliminated Qasem Soleimani the world's top terrorist.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: As you know he was with the Head of Hezbollah. I don't think they were up to anything good. I don't think so.
[12:30:00]
TRUMP: He ran an organization Jerusalem Liberation Forces and used his hatred, total severe hatred of Israel, as a rallying cry to divert
attention from the incompetence and shortcomings of his government. He falsely promoted the sinister notion that a free Jerusalem we must really
be at war with Israel.
So to have it free we have to be at war with Israel and he said it very, very powerfully. In fact, it's been in this false war that Israel really
the enemies of peace have used - they just used it as an excuse to divide and totally oppress the Middle East. In truth, Jerusalem is liberated.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: Jerusalem is a safe, open, democratic city that welcomes people of all faiths and all places. It is time for the Muslim world to mix the
mistake it made in 1948 when it chose to attack instead of recognize the new state of Israel. It's time.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: Since then the amount of needless bloodshed and all squandered opportunities, so many squandered opportunities in the name of senseless
causes is beyond measure. The Palestinians have been the primary pawn in this regional adventurism and it's time for this sad chapter in history to
end, end quickly and end now. It's never too late for courageous leaders to set a new course, to pursue what is right, to change the future only for
the better.
America is prepared to work with all parties on our vision. So many other countries are willing, ready and able to work with us. I've spoken too many
of them. I cannot believe the amount of support this morning has. I cannot believe it. I have been called by leaders, Boris called, so many called,
and they are all saying whatever we can do to help. They all want to see it happen.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: But America cannot care more about peace than the stakeholders in the region. There are many Muslims who never visited Al Aqua and many
Christians and Jews who never visited the holy sites in the West Bank described so vividly in the Bible. My vision will change that. Our majestic
biblical heritage will be able to live, breathe and flourish in modern times.
All humidity should be able to enjoy the glories of the holy land. This part of the world is forever connected to the human soul and the human
spirit. These ancient lands should not be symbols of conflict but eternal symbols of peace. Thank you again for all of the work you've all done and
all of these incredible honored guests for being here and in particular I want to thank Prime Minister Netanyahu.
I also want to thank Oman, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates for the incredible work they've done helping us with so much and sending their
Ambassadors to be with us today. Thank you very much.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Please give our regards. America's partnerships in the region have never been greater and our
alliance with the state of Israel has never ever been stronger than it is today.
Together we can bring about a new dawn in the Middle East and I'd now again just like to thank everybody, very special group of people, an incredible
group of people. So many have been with us on this journey right from the beginning and we're getting there. It's they say it is the toughest deal
ever to make.
[12:35:00]
TRUMP: In business, I have a tough deal; people would say this is tougher than the Israelis and the Palestinians. They used it as an excuse. Meaning
that was always the standard actually, there's nothing tougher than this one, but we have to get it done. We have an obligation to humanity to get
it done.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: So I would now like to introduce the Prime Minister of Israel who has worked so hard on this, Benjamin Netanyahu. Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: In the Middle East we drink water before a long voyage. This is an extraordinary voyage. President
Trump, Donald, I am honored to be here today along with my wife Sara, Minister Levine, Ambassador Ron Dermer. Ron, thank you for everything that
you've been doing.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: The National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat. Thank you, too Meir. And our entire delegation we are honored to be here with you, M.
President, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, we applaud you, Mike. Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin, National Security Adviser Roberto
O'Brien, America's U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft, Jared Kushner and Ivanka, it's good to see you both.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: It's good to see the unfailingly energetic and optimistic Ambassador David Friedman, Jason Greenblatt, Avi Burkowitz, Brian Hook and
the rest of your exceptional peace band, Mr. President. It's good to be here with the other distinguished ladies and gentlemen of your
administration, with Senators and members of Congress who are Israel's greatest friends on Capitol Hill. Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: With the Ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman, what a pleasure to see you here and what a sign it portends. I was
going to say of the future. What a sign it portends of the present.
(APPLAUSE)
NETAHNYAHU: To all of you and to the many distinguished - other distinguished guests, who are here today, this is a historic day and it
recalls another historic day. We remember May 14th, 1948, because on that day President Truman became the first world leader to recognize the state
of Israel after our first Prime Minister David Beguren declared our independence.
That day chartered a brilliant future. Mr. President, I believe that down the decades and perhaps down the centuries.
[12:40:00]
We will also remember January 28th, 2020, because on this day you became the first world leader to recognize Israel's sovereignty over areas in
Judea and so mare that are vital to our security and central to our heritage.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: And on this day you, too, have chartered a brilliant future, a brilliant future for Israelis, Palestinians and the region by presenting a
realistic path to a durable peace. Since the moment of its birth Israel has yearned for peace with our Palestinian neighbors and peace with the broader
Arab world.
For decades that peace has proved allusive despite so many well-intentioned plans. One after the other they failed. Why did they fail? They failed
because they did not strike the right balance between Israel's vital security and national interests and the Palestinians aspirations for self-
determination.
Too many plans tried to pressure Israel to withdraw from vital territory like the Jordan Valley, but you, Mr. President, you recognize that Israel
must have sovereignty in the Jordan Valley and the other - and other strategic areas of Judea and Samaria rather than pay easy lip service to
Israel's security and simply shut your eyes, hope for the best, you recognized that Israel must have sovereignty in places that enable Israel
to defend itself by itself.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: Far too long, far too long, the very heart of the land of Israel where our patriarchs prayed, our prophets preached and our kings ruled has
been outrageously branded as illegally occupied territory. Well, today, Mr. President, you are puncturing this big lie.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: You are recognizing Israel's sovereignty over all the Jewish communities Judea and Samaria large and small alike. These as the
distinguished pastors who are here know very well, these are places inscribed in the pages of the Bible. These are places carved into the
bedrock of our common civilization. The sacred tomb where the fathers and mothers of the Jewish people are buried, where Jacob dreamed of a ladder
ascending to the heavens, where the arc of the covenant that held the ten commandments for ten centuries - for sent - sorry, for centuries, that's
what happened in Shiloh.
Thanks to you, Mr. President, these areas and so many others that for millennia have been etched in the soul of the Jewish people and fired the
imaginations of millions of people around the world and cross the world, these areas will now be recognized by the United States as a permanent part
of the Jewish state.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: Mr. President, because of this historic recognition and because I believe your peace plan strikes the right balance where other plans have
failed, I have agreed to negotiate peace with the Palestinians on the basis of your peace plan.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: It's a great plan for Israel; it's a great plan for peace. Frankly, Mr. President, given all that you have already done for Israel,
I'm not surprised. You have been the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House.
(APPLAUSE)
[12:45:00]
NETANYAHU: Frankly, though we have had some great outstanding friends in these halls, it's not even close. Your stark decisions to recognize
Jerusalem as Israel's Capital, to realize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, to reaffirm Israel's legal claims in Judea and Samaria, to
stand up to Iran, to pull out of that dangerous Iran Deal. To confront - confront is not the right word, to eliminate Qasem Soleimani, to support
and encourage unbelievable cooperation between Israel and the United States and the military and strategic and intelligence fields, all this bear
testament to the friendship and depth of your leadership and commitment to Israel.
From our very first meeting here in the White House three years ago you repeatedly made clear your commitment to help Israel achieve peace with the
Palestinians and peace with the rest of the Arab world. Mr. President, I share that commitment. And I look forward to working with you to achieve a
peace that will protect Israel's security, provide the Palestinians with dignity and their own national life and improve Israel's relations with the
Arab world.
Your peace plan advances all of these goals. First, it addresses the root cause of the conflict by insisting that the Palestinians will finally have
to recognize Israel as the Jewish state.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: Second it stipulates that Israel will retain security control in the entire area west of the Jordan River, thereby giving Israel a permanent
eastern border, a permanent eastern border to defend ourselves across our longest border. This is something we've longed to have. We now have such a
recognized boundary.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: Third, your plan calls for Hamas to be disarmed and for Gaza to be demilitarized.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: Fourth, it makes clear that the Palestinian refugee problem must be solved outside the state of Israel.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: Fifth, it calls for ancient capital Jerusalem to remain united under Israel's sovereignty. And of course ensures that religious sites
remain accessible to all faiths and it maintains the status quo on the temple mount.
Sixth, your plan does not uproot anyone from their homes. Israelis and Palestinians alike instead, it proposes innovative solutions whereby
Israelis will be connected to Israel and whereby Palestinians will also be connected to one another. It helps if you have these real estate people,
you know?
They can come up with - they can come up with things normal human beings don't think about. And they have. Mr. President, Israel wants the
Palestinians to have a better life. We want them to have a future of national dignity, prosperity and hope. Your peace plan offers the
Palestinians such a future. Your peace plan offers the Palestinians a pathway to a future state. I know that it may take them a very long time to
reach the end of that path.
It may even take them a very long time to get to the beginning of that path, but if the Palestinians are genuinely prepared to take that path, if
they are genuinely prepared to make peace with the Jewish states and if they agree to abide by all the conditions you have put forward in your
plan, Israel will be there, Israel would be prepared to negotiate peace right away.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: Regardless of the Palestinian decision, Israel will preserve the path of peace in the coming years.
[12:50:00]
NETANYAHU: For at least four years Israel will maintain the status quo in areas that your plan does not designate as being part of Israel in the
future. At the same time Israel will apply its laws to the Jordan Valley to all the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria and to other areas that
your plan designates as part of Israel and which the United States has agreed to recognize as part of Israel. I like that.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: This decision would protect Israel's security, ensure Israel's national interest and leave open the possibility of a political settlement
with the Palestinians in the coming years. Mr. President, I hope the Palestinians embrace your vision of peace. Embrace the plan that you and
your team and us work so hard to achieve. I hope that they seize the opportunity offered by your sweeping economic plan.
I read it. It takes enormous talent to reject $50 billion worth of investment. I know what that does to an economy. I know what it will do to
Palestinian lives. I know what it will do to the youth of the region. I hope that the Palestinians embrace this and build with Israel a future of
prosperity and peace.
I also hope that our other Arab neighbors embrace your vision and forge a path of reconciliation with Israel that can create for all of us a
brilliant future. Mr. President, I want to congratulate your fantastic deal. there is no other word. Your fantastic peace deal for all the work
Jason Greenblatt
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: Thank you, Jason, for the terrific job you did as America's peace envoy for nearly three years. Avi Berkowitz, thank you for stepping
up - thank you, Avi, for stepping out from your important behind the roles scene - behind the scenes role and ably working in those past few months to
get this plan done.
Ambassador David Friedman, thank you, David.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: Thank you for your essential contribution to this effort and for the terrific job you do every day to strengthen the great alliance between
Israel and America. And Jared Kushner, without your wisdom, your persistence, your resolve, this day would have never come.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: I know how much the Jewish future means to you and to your family. Well, Jared, today you have helped secure that future. The Jewish
state owes you and it owes President Trump an eternal debt of gratitude.
(APPLAUSE)
NETANYAHU: Mr. President, on that historic day of May 14th, 1948, both David Benguran and President Truman had a fateful decision to make. Many
argued that Benguran should not declare Israel's independence. Many argued that President Truman should not recognize the Jewish state. But both
leaders understood the magnitude of the hour. They seized the moment and they would change history.
Like you, Mr. President, I understand the magnitude of this moment. With you, Mr. President, I am prepared to seize the moment and change history. I
know that there will be opposition. There's always opposition. I know there will be many obstacles along the way.
[12:55:00]
NETANYAHU: Much criticism. But we have an old Jewish saying, if not now, when? And if not us, who? Mr. President, your deal of the century is the
opportunity of the century and rest assured Israel will not miss this opportunity.
Mr. President, Donald, Israel is blessed to have your friendship and your powerful leadership, and Israel is blessed to have the friendship of the
greatest power on earth, the United States of America. May God bless America? May God bless Israel? And may God bless us all with security,
prosperity and peace. Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
ANDERSON: Well, you heard it here first, the public release of Donald Trump's self-proclaimed deal of the century, his proposal to end the
decades of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, including what he described as a realistic two-state solution, which includes Jerusalem as
Israel's undivided Capital. There will be, he said, a Palestinian state with some presence in Jerusalem.
And Jordan will control the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Quite how all of that will work together will, I guess, be the devil in the detail as it
were. We also heard from the Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who Donald Trump thanked for having the courage he, said to take this bold step
forward. Of the Palestinian people Donald Trump said they deserve a better life, they've been trapped in a cycle of poverty and terrorism.
No Palestinians will be uprooted from their homes. Look that was a long session, 50 odd minutes. I've got two experts with us before the top of the
hour, let's break this down. Oren is in Jerusalem, Jeremy Diamond is in D.C., and Sam Kiley is out in Ramallah. Jeremy, let me get to you first.
What do you make of what you just heard?
DIAMOND: Well, two main points. First of all, I know that we've been talking before the President spoke about the extent to which this is going
to be skewed in Israel's favor and it was very clear that it was an extremely pro-Israel plan probably the most pro-Israel plan of past peace
plans that have been presented by other Presidents.
At the same time, it did go perhaps a little bit further in the Palestinian direction than many pessimists were perhaps expecting in the sense that it
does call for the creation of an independent state of Palestine. But how you actually get there is really difficult to see here, particularly
because it seems that ultimately regardless of whether or not the Palestinians agree to the terms of this agreement, President Trump and
Prime Minister Netanyahu seem to make clear that they are moving forward with this.
Netanyahu said that President Trump would be recognizing Israeli sovereignty over all settlements big and small in the West Bank. That would
essentially it seem based on the comments by Netanyahu and by Trump amount to Israeli annexation perhaps of those territories and U.S. recognition of
those territories.
That would be a tremendous - a huge, huge step in the direction, the right wing direction in Israeli politics and it would certainly have tremendous
implications for the future of the peace process, regardless of whether or not this is the deal that becomes the framework for future negotiations
between the United States and Palestinians.
We do have a lot of questions, though, that still remain after the remarks by those two leaders, particularly on the question of Jerusalem. We heard
President Trump say on the one hand hat Jerusalem will remain Israel's undivided Capital and then moments later he said there would be a
Palestinian Capital in East Jerusalem.
Those two things seem to be at odds with one another. I also do think that it's notable that the President did not address the question of Palestinian
refugees, the question of the right of return for those Palestinian refugees. And, again, this is a lot still needs to be unpacked here. But
certainly, this is something that takes things in a very pro-Israel direction. The Palestinians are all but certain to reject this as they
already have before they saw the plan. Again, a lot of questions still remain here. But certainly, this is clearly at the direction at this
administration is moving in.
ANDERSON: And we are getting immediate reaction from Jeremy, from Oren and from Sam as that - as that -- more like what, a presentation ended there at
the White House.
END
