Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Monday his intention of making full use of the possibility for Israel to apply sovereignty in the Jordan Valley and settlements in Judea and Samaria, in accordance with the Trump administration's peace plan.
In a meeting with members of the Bithonistim security and defense forum, Netanyahu told the Bithonistim representatives that Israel was facing "a historic opportunity and we are currently working on it," and thanked them for their support.
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Later Monday, Netanyahu declared at a Likud faction meeting that he was determined to apply sovereignty to "30% of the territory in Judea and Samaria."
Netanyahu said that while there would be "protests and fuss, the interests that are bringing Israel and the Arab states closer together remain in effect and so, after a few months, things will get back on track."
The prime minister said that the main obstacle to the implementation of the plan was the differences between the positions of Blue and White leaders Benny Gantz and Gabi Ashkenazi, both former IDF chiefs of staff.
Gantz said Monday at the AJC Global Forum that he would to secure a broad Israeli consensus for the plan.
"We have to work on the basis of it and move forward with regional partners, with local partners, of course with consensus within the Israeli society, and with full coordination and backup with the United States," Gantz said.
Meanwhile, the dissent on the Israeli Right about details of the plan made political waves. After Likud officials slammed the Yesha Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria for their opposition to the Trump plan, Yamina MK Ayelet Shaked said, "If Netanyahu wants to apply sovereignty, let him. The Yesha Council has submitted maps, in accordance with the American demand, for 30% of the territory.
"They shouldn't hide behind Blue and White. According to the coalition agreement, their agreement is not necessary and Likud officials are saying that the Americans aren't asking for it, either. The maps need to be adjusted, there can be no agreement to a [construction] freeze, and no recognition of a Palestinian state. Just do it," Shaked said.
The Yesha Council also responded. Head of the Binyamin Regional Council Yisrael Gantz said, "My Likud friends, a little respect. We would at least expect you to consult [with us], cooperate, and not hide things. Certainly not make us into a punching bag when we point out facts that you might be trying to suppress. Take responsibility -- change the plan and apply sovereignty the right way. You can do it."
Senior Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah, as well as high-ranking Jordanian officials, expressed their satisfaction with the Yesha Council's opposition to the current version of the Trump plan and the rifts in the Israeli Right over Netanyahu's intention of implementing the plan next month.
One PA official told Israel Hayom that "the settlers' opposition to the plan is doing our work for us."
Jordanian officials said that there was an atmosphere of embarrassment in Washington over the fact that some parts of the Israeli Right were unwilling to accept the plan: "The impression is that the Americans are starting to lose their patience given to opposition to Netanyahu from the Right," the officials said.
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