On Tuesday night at 7 p.m., Israel time, US President Donald Trump is expected to officially unveil the full version of his administration's much-anticipated peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians, otherwise known as the "deal of the century."
On Sunday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader landed separately in Washington ahead of their meetings with Trump. At the same time, the defense establishment was preparing for a possible escalation of Palestinian violence following threats in recent days.
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Moments before boarding his plane at Ben-Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu said: "Five years ago, I went to the US and to Congress, because I was forced to contend with a plan presented by an American president (Barack Obama), because I believed it would pose a threat to the State of Israel's vital interests, essentially its existence. Today I'm leaving for Washington to stand alongside an American president who is presenting a plan, which I believe, advances our most vital interests. Over the past three years, I have had countless conversations with President Trump, a great friend of the State of Israel, and with his staff, about Israel's vital interests, about our security and about our righteousness.
"We are in the midst of very dramatic political events, but the peak is still ahead. I am going to Washington with a great sense of purpose, great responsibility and a great chance, and I am hopeful we can make history."
Accompanying the prime minister were Tourism Minister Yariv Lavin, Israel's Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer, and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
Downplaying the plan in Gaza
In recent days and on Monday morning as well the defense establishment has held multiple security assessments.
The Palestinians, claiming the White House is unfairly biased toward Israel, have already said they won't accept the plan.
On Sunday, the Palestinian Authority's Foreign Ministry called for a "clear international declaration" rejecting the plan.
"No single Palestinian would accept this plan, and the Palestinian leadership will defeat it as they have done with similar plans," said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, spokesman for PA President Mahmoud Abbas.
At present, beyond the Palestinian threats, Israel's security agencies haven't seen any particular groundswell of support for violence.
Hamas, according to Israel security assessments, is largely ignoring the Trump plan and no one in the terrorist organization is taking seriously declarations that Gaza would be demilitarized and Hamas disarmed under the plan.
It's possible that recalcitrant terrorist groups in Gaza will try and even succeed in launching intermittent rockets at Israel as a provocation and in an effort to heighten tensions. The IDF said it was prepared for such a development and that air defense systems were already deployed as a matter of routine in the Gaza sector.
The working assumption is that the Palestinian Authority will look to counter the Trump plan through diplomatic means only.
Channel 13 News reported on Sunday night that the White House was considering inviting Arab ambassadors to the unveiling of the peace plan.
Israel's security comes first
Very little is known, as of now, about the outlines of the peace plan and what both sides will be asked to concede.
Trump first announced his "deal of the century" immediately after he was voted into office in 2016, in an interview to the New York Times on November 23.
In an interview with Israel Hayom in June 2019, then-US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said, "In the deal of the century, Israel's security is above all else. The role of Arab states is to tell PA President [Mahmoud Abbas] that the way to improving the Palestinian situation is to come to the negotiating table."
