Former US envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt, one of the architects of the Trump administration's so-called "deal of the century," hinted on Wednesday that the White House could possibly alter policy course on the issue of Israel annexing the Jordan Valley.
His comments came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday renewed his vow to "impose Israeli sovereignty on the Jordan Valley and northern Dead Sea." Netanyahu's pledge was later echoed by Blue and White leader Benny Gantz.
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Greenblatt took to Twitter and said there was a need to change some of the basic assumptions about the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The former US envoy was responding to a previous tweet by United Nations Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov, who said such an annexation "of some or all of Area C in the West Bank, if implemented, would deal a devastating blow to the potential of reviving negotiations, advancing regional peace, and the essence of the two-state solution."
"Nickolay, I respect you," Greenblatt wrote, acknowledging the two don't "see eye to eye" on the issue. "For any peace [agreement] to actually happen, there must be a reality check about Judea and Samaria/West Bank."
Nickolay, I respect you, appreciate your statements aren't typically the usual diplomatic speak & know we don't see eye to eye on some issues. On this you & I very much disagree. For any peace agmt to actually happen, there must be a reality check about Judea & Samaria/West Bank. https://t.co/uYElG6Gtg7
— Jason D. Greenblatt (@GreenblattJD) January 22, 2020
It should be noted that Greenblatt no longer holds any official position within the Trump administration, but remains intricately familiar with its policies on the Middle East in general and Israel in particular.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu's coalition allies expressed their support for his annexation pledge.
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett said Thursday morning: "The chatter about applying sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, Samaria and Judea is welcome. But this, as I've said before, is just chatter for the time being. The real test is in action. I call on the prime minister to present an annexation bill to the cabinet this coming Sunday, and then present the bill to the Knesset on Tuesday. Only tangible actions will make a difference."
Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman, on the other hand, attacked the prime minister in a Facebook post, accusing Netanyahu of a spin job.
"Mr. Prime Minister, it is now clearer than ever that you have no ties at all to the Right or the Left. The Jordan Valley couldn't interest you less. The only thing that interests you is immunity. But, beyond immunity and all the spins, there is a country here. You have served as prime minister consecutively since 2009, and for some reason for over a decade I never heard you talk this much about imposing sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, not to mention actually doing anything about it," Lieberman wrote.
