Lebanese Report Claims Details of ‘Deal of the Century’

A report on the Lebanese Al-Meadin satellite channel claims to reveal specific details of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “deal of the century” peace plan. The plan calls for a three-way deal between Israel, the PLO and Hamas, with the establishment of a Palestinian state, called “New Palestine,” in parts of Yehudah and Shomron, and in Gaza.

The main Israeli settlement blocs will remain in Israeli hands, and so-called “isolated settlements” will also remain under Israeli sovereignty, according to the report. Arrangements will be made to ensure that communities outside the settlement blocs are able to be connected to larger Israeli territory.

Yerushalayim will remain united and under the authority of the municipality, but the [Arab] education system will be in the Palestinian state’s hands. Israel will pay for the infrastructure and cost of running those schools. The status quo – that is, the current situation – will prevail at holy sites, but Saudi Arabia will become responsible for Har HaBayis. The Jordan Valley will remain in Israeli hands.

Jews will not live in New Palestine, and they will be banned from buying property that in the past belonged to Arabs; Arabs will also not be allowed to buy property that had previously belonged to Jews. Under the plan, Gaza will be expanded, with Egypt donating land for establishment of an airport and for industry and agriculture. The amount of land Egypt will allocate is to be determined. A super-highway will connect Palestinian areas of Yehudah and Shomron and Gaza.

The U.S., the EU and Gulf states will shoulder the financial burden of the plan, which is expected to cost about $30 billion over a five-year period. Most of the money – 70% – will come from the Gulf states, with the U.S. kicking in 20%, and Europe the rest. New Palestine will not have an army, just a police force. Hamas will be disarmed, the plan specifies.

Israeli and U.S. officials did not comment on the report.