Here are the first reactions to Trump’s peace plan
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was present at the White House briefing. Image by Getty
In a briefing at the East Room of the White House, President Trump unveiled a new peace plan that would preserve Israeli control of Jerusalem and settlements in the West Bank, while endorsing a Palestinian state and promising billions in dollars to help develop it. Even before the speech had ended, journalists, commentators, and thinkers had already begun to share their first reactions on Twitter. Here’s what some of them were saying.
What are your thoughts on @realDonaldTrump’s #MiddleEastPeacePlan? https://t.co/jtWg3HquL1
— The Forward (@jdforward) January 28, 2020
Before the briefing began, reporters noted the presence of pro-Israel philanthropists Sheldon and Miri Adelson, as well as Jared and Ivanka Kushner, Republican members of Congress like Ted Cruz, and evangelical leaders like former Christian Coalition executive director Ralph Reed.
שלדון ומירי are in the house pic.twitter.com/ScMiRbprgI
— Tal Shalev (@talshalev1) January 28, 2020
At the White House for Trump’s peace plan announcement: @ralphreed @JoeLieberman @IvankaTrump @SenTedCruz @RepMarkMeadows, Sheldon Adelson and many others. pic.twitter.com/r8ONv70Owo
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) January 28, 2020
The Israeli press turned out in force.
An Israeli reporter climbing on a ladder in the White House Press Room to get the best view is truly the best symbol of the Israeli spirit. https://t.co/ks9NqBLFY0
— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) January 28, 2020
Israeli press has completely taken over the briefing room pic.twitter.com/09miCPJqDh
— Annie Karni (@anniekarni) January 28, 2020
Jill Jacobs of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights had a Talmud-based take.
I know that if Kushner, Netanyahu and/or Gantz are doing daf yomi, they won’t get to Nezikin for a few years, but spoiler alert…it takes two to make an agreement, and one half of the parties weren’t invited. https://t.co/CkYIPN6Low
— Rabbi Jill Jacobs (@rabbijilljacobs) January 28, 2020
Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank had praise for the deal.
At the same time, even if Israeli lefties argue with elements of the deal, this breathes new life into the two state solution. And Grants appears to be embracing this with his calls for dialogue with the Palestinians and Jordan.
— Jonathan Schanzer (@JSchanzer) January 28, 2020
But Forward columnist Muhammad Shehada described it as a precursor to annexation of the West Bank.
The goal of #Trump’s ‘peace deal’ has always been to get #Palestinians to reject it; every aspect of the plan is meant to bait us into rejecting the deal to give #Netanyahu an alibi for unilateral annexation then blame us for it — My Latest in @jdforwardhttps://t.co/rpv8ykFXny
— Muhammad Shehada (@muhammadshehad2) January 24, 2020
And Reuters correspondent Luke Baker thought the speech raised more questions than it answered.
A few key unanswered questions in Trump’s #MiddleEastPeacePlan :
1. What about the Jordan Valley?
2. Palestinian capital where in East Jerusalem?
3. Which Israeli settlements would be annexed, all of them?
4. Who is going to build tunnels/bridges to Gaza?— Luke Baker (@BakerLuke) January 28, 2020
Journalist Noga Tarnopolsky noted Trump’s reference to Christian religious leaders attending the briefing.
Ah,”the distinguished pastors here,” a key to the timing of this presentation.
I’m not sure Trump actually promised this list of promises Netanyahu is now listing. Anyone hear all these details in Trump’s presentation?
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) January 28, 2020
The Washington Examiner’s Seth Mandel predicted the media reaction would be negative — and had scorn for the doomsayers.
The reaction to this plan will be a parade of failed Mideast negotiators with a partisan axe to grind being asked by CNN and NYT to weigh in and ‘explain’ something they have proved they’ve never understood.
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) January 28, 2020
Almost everyone had something to say about Trump’s reference to the “al-Aqua Mosque” (he was referring to the al-Aqsa Mosque, which is located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem).
Al Aqua Mosque??? thats all you need to know folks…
— Ayman Mohyeldin (@AymanM) January 28, 2020
Wait how does one visit the”Al Aqua Mosque”?
— Tema Smith (@temasmith) January 28, 2020
AL AQUA MOSQUE
— Shayna Weiss (@shaynamalka) January 28, 2020
Weigh in, we would like to hear what you think of the proposed peace plan, comment on our Facebook post below.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
