Israeli sovereignty in Judea, Samaria won’t hurt Trump peace plan, says Pompeo

When asked whether Netanyahu’s pledge to “annex” Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria would harm the prospects for Trump’s “deal of the century,” Pompeo replied, “I don’t.”

By World Israel News Staff

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told CNN interviewer Jake Tapper on Friday that the U.S.’ new Middle East peace plan would not be negatively impacted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s campaign pledge to declare Israeli sovereignty over Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

“Do you have any concerns about the comments Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was just reelected, made right before he was reelected vowing to annex [Judea and Samaria]?” asked Tapper, adding, “Do you think that might hurt the pursuit of peace, the two-state solution proposal that Jared Kushner and others, including you, have been working so hard on?”

“I don’t,” responded Pompeo.

“I think that the vision that we’ll lay out is going to represent a significant change from the model that’s been used”,” he added.

Elaborating on the U.S. historical approach to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Pompeo explained “[W]e’ve had a lot of ideas for 40 years; they did not deliver peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Our mission set is to put forward a vision. Ultimately, the Israelis and the Palestinian people will have to make this – resolve this for themselves.”

Pompeo expressed hope that the Trump administration’s “new,” “unique” ideas “to reframe and reshape what’s been an intractable problem that multiple administrations have grappled with” would result in “a better life for the Israelis without this conflict” and “a better life for the Palestinian people.”