The United States is ready to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and Israeli settlement in Judea and Samaria in the coming weeks, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told Israel Hayom Tuesday in a special interview held on the occasion of the two-year anniversary to the relocation of the American Mission in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Friedman explained that several processes must be completed prior to this move, saying the timetable for those dependents mainly on Israel, but made it clear that Washington does not plan to impose any new conditions for the move.
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According to the ambassador, when the process of mapping the area is completed, when the government agrees to halt settlement construction in the part of Area C that will be excluded from the annexation plan, and when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agrees to negotiate with the Palestinians on the basis of the Trump administration's Middle East peace plan – something Netanyahu has already agreed to – the US will recognize Israel's sovereignty in areas that the plan outlined.
Friedman stressed that the key element in applying Israeli law to these areas is that Israel has to be the one to make the move.
It's not the US that is declaring sovereignty but the Israeli government. Once it does, the US is ready to recognize it, he explained.
As for whether the Trump administration will push Israel to recognize a Palestinian state, Friedman said that the only condition with regard to this issue is that the prime minister – regardless of who that may be – agrees to negotiate with the Palestinians in good faith for four years.
He further acknowledged that Prime Minister Netanyahu has given his consent to this condition and that it is the Palestinians who have rejected the idea.
Under the US plan, while at this time the Palestinian refuse to negotiate with Israel, if they agree to it, for example, in two years, the prime minister is obliged to resume talks, he explained.
As this condition was set for a limited timeframe, the US wants to keep the option on the table for four years, Friedman said.
But what about the moratorium on settlement constriction? According to Friedman, this stipulation would be relevant only to secluded settlements and would apply to expand their territorial footprint only, not the construction of tall buildings.
Once Israel applies its law to the area, the absolute majority of settlers, some 400,000 people, will continue living their lives as always, with construction taking place according to the existing laws that apply to communities within the Green Line. About 10,000 to 15,000 of them will be unable to expand their communities' area, but will still be able to build up, he explained.
The ambassador added that places like Beit El and Hebron are the historical heart of Judea and Samaria, noting that even Israeli have told him they have no interest in handing them over to the Palestinians as part of a peace agreement.
Friedman said he has come to learn that Israelis from all walks of life believe that the plan presented by the Trump administration is the best plan for Israel. The administration knows that, just as Americans would relinquish the area on which the Statue of Liberty stands, even though it's a very small area, Israel would never agree to give up these places."
'Time to put this debate behind us'
The leaders of the settlement enterprise welcomed Friedman's statement.
Head of Mount Hebron Regional Council, Yochai Damari said, "Under Ambassador Friedman's leadership, the sovereignty plan is progressing and we welcome it. We support the ambassador who, together with the prime minister and President Trump, are pushing for sovereignty and recognition of settlements as part of the State of Israel, thus bringing forth historical justice.
"The plan does, however, have red lines. We are concerned about the enclave provisions and unfortunately, we have not received clarifications about it. We will not allow thousands of families to be abandoned to the mercy of the terrorists."
Efrat Mayor Oded Ravivi said that "this is a test not only for the new government, which is supposed to include applying sovereignty [to the area] by July, but also a test for the Israeli Right and the settlers' leadership.
"Do they prefer having one bird in their hand or two in a tree. I believe we are facing a formative period and if we miss [this chance] we may lose the opportunity to change the future of a generation. I say yes to the plan!"
Beit El Mayor Shai Alon noted that "Washington already understands the historical significance of Beit El and Judea and Samaria have for the people of Israel. It's unthinkable that Jerusalem not do the same. It's time to apply sovereignty. It's time to leave this debate behind us and make Israel control over Judea and Samaria a fact."
The Jewish-American left-leaning lobby J Street, however, criticized Friedman's statement as one "greenlighting disaster."
J Street Israel Director Yael Patir told Israel Hayom that "Through Ambassador Friedman, the Trump administration announced that it is giving the green light to a disaster.
"Under the guise of a bogus provision stipulating talks with the Palestinians, the administration is backing a move that will debunk the Palestinian hope for self-determination and will, therefore, risk the future existence of the State of Israel as the democratic nation-state of the Jewish people."
The full interview with Ambassador Friedman will be published on Friday.
