Listen carefully. It's touted as the deal of the century. Let's make a deal, says President Trump to natural ally Israel. Hear our offer and then make a counteroffer. Or better yet, sign on the dotted line and let's get to work. That's what our close friends in the White House are saying – and it'd be wise for us to listen clearly.
Rumors have abounded for weeks, months really. The deal sounds like a good one for those who believe in the history and security of Jewish presence in all of our historical homeland. We have worried about the details – what's included and what's not; changing the status of lands around Jewish communities; building only permitted within certain areas, and so on.
Now that the facts of the proposal are on the table, the conservative Israeli right can say with clarity: This is a good deal. It makes sense. It relies on a realistic reading of the past and turns with guarded hope to the future. Israeli annexation is the first and immediate step that the US calls upon Israel to take, and this is good – if our government steps up and responds with swift action.
Listen to the narrative. It tells the tale of a hopeful society in which people can live peacefully with each other. It does not make grand promises nor does it purport to have all the answers. What it does is reframe the picture, and offer a new direction. That in itself, after decades of stalemate and terror, is good. For everyone.
But who is everyone? Well, let's face it - deals are struck between partners. With the absence of a real partner on the Arab Palestinian side, the US boldly suggests a bilateral deal with Israel.
Trump is the ultimate businessman, and Israel would be wise to see the win-win deal on the table right now. Timing may not be everything, but it would be a wise Right that praises the warm friendship of Trump-Kushner-Friedman et. al, and takes the opportunity to immediately embrace and put it into play.
Take a look at the details. The deal supports – practically calls for – immediate Israeli extension of its sovereignty over an overwhelmingly large part of Judea, Samaria and more. No caravan is left out. The line for annexation is that which is drawn around every last Jewish home on each and every hill. A 'Palestinian state' in the making? Not even close. An end to the questionable status of Jews living in their homeland? Absolutely.
The nationalist camp will rightfully have a few important questions: What about the rest of the land – 40-50%, located in between Jewish settlement, realistically counting.
This is a point of risk for us. Right now no one is officially sanctioned to build there, not in international eyes and not under the usually Likud-led governments. What has happened is the explosion of illegal Arab building – and under the deal this will end.
The land will be protected and saved from invasion. Cautious optimism and careful diplomacy are required on points like these, to ensure Jewish sovereignty and security for all those living within these newly annexed borders.
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The elephant in the room is now reduced to a small china figurine: any remaining option for a Palestinian state. The Trump deal extends a carrot to the Palestinians: Comply with eight fairly obvious criteria over four years, and you may find yourselves with a Palestinian state.
Israeli conservatives are right to voice an opposing position. We would rather take this option off the table completely. When the Netanyahu government meets to vote on the deal, add a clause to that effect. This was done with 14 reservations to a previous initiative and will state clearly that we do not and never will accept an independent Palestinian state. Period.
However, since the Americans have left the possibility on the table, let's take that closer look: This deal, by mere mention of a potential Palestinian state, builds it in such a way that the option is doomed for oblivion.
At the end of four years, having rid themselves of any semblance of hate and terror, the PA becomes, well, the PA. The same story with a different name, and if anything, in a weaker position than today, January 2020.
Area A has become Area B, under the deal, as security control reverts back to Israel.
Area C has been annexed to Israel, on the whole, with the rest of it protected and saved from illegal (Arab) building.
Roads and infrastructure remain the unquestionable domain of Israel. Each and every Jewish home now comes under the sovereignty of Israel. And all that remains is for the PA to step up and act in eight straightforward ways, to foment peace and goodwill in the region, towards Israel and their Jewish neighbors.
Utopia? Not quite. A step in the right direction? Quite a few. Israel's Right would be wise to embrace President Trump's deal, and encourage PM Benjamin Netanyahu and the next government to immediately continue the work started by these bright, informed, well-meaning friends of Israel who know a US interest when they see one. Our way forward is together.
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Notes to consider:
* One explanation for the inclusion, if ever so cynically, of a Palestinian state option, is that Saudi Arabia is waiting in the wings.
* The major caveat for Israel's conservative Right to support the deal is to have PM Netanyahu return home to Jerusalem tomorrow, convene the government and accept the deal with one initial and immediate move: apply sovereignty to all the lands mentioned in the deal right now – within weeks, as Trump has said. A done deal for all.
* This government decision can be taken now, and ratified by the Knesset: Our suggestion is to bring it for a veto vote – that is, the parliament gets one week to veto the government decision, or else it goes into immediate effect.
In short, the Trump team has handed Israel a gift, one that will pave the way to a resolution based on the Jewish historic rights to our land – we are here to stay, find coexistence and secure our future in our homeland.
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If Netanyahu wants the Likud to stay in power, he will realize that his immediate response today must be to come home and take the first, most important step: Annex all the areas delineated in the deal right now. Not piecemeal, not Maaleh Adumim first, or the Jordan Valley. All of it – now.
