Khaberni - The head of the Joint List and Arab Movement for Change in the Knesset, MP Ahmad Al-Tayeb, said on Sunday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was previously aware of the clauses of the plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.
Al-Tayeb, through Al-Mamlaka channel, emphasized that what is happening is not a coincidence, in light of recent meetings between Netanyahu and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and the White House special envoy Steve Whitcov.
He pointed out that the American plan includes 21 clauses, and Netanyahu was consulted about them in advance, which eliminates the element of surprise, noting that "Trump could not have proposed these clauses without full coordination with Netanyahu."
He explained that the Palestinian side is completely absent from the discussions about this plan, indicating that the Israeli response expected tomorrow (Monday) will be "yes, but", which aims to pass the ball to the court of Hamas, especially since some clauses had been previously rejected by the movement during earlier negotiations.
Al-Tayeb also clarified that Netanyahu completely rejects any role for the Palestinian Authority in the next phase, whether in the West Bank or Gaza Strip, which complicates the chances of reaching a comprehensive agreement.
Al-Tayeb doubted the possibility of reaching an agreement that ensures the full release of Palestinian prisoners without achieving in return a clear agreement including an Israeli scheduled withdrawal, reconstruction, and a clear Palestinian administration of the sector, saying: "Hamas expressed its willingness to step down, but Netanyahu wants to stay in Gaza, while retaining the ability to launch a war or military operation whenever he wishes, to prove to his coalition partners that the war is not over yet."
Regarding the ongoing demonstrations within Israel, Al-Tayeb indicated that they aim to stop the war and accomplish a prisoner exchange deal, noting that Netanyahu is in a critical balance between trying not to upset Trump and pleasing his coalition partners, including the extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and the extremist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who threatened to topple the government if Netanyahu agrees to stop the war without the Cabinet’s consent.
He said that Trump exaggerates in describing the situation since his return to the White House, and the realities on the ground are much more complicated than the picture he tries to paint.
