Report: Trump’s ‘Deal of the Century’ Rolls Out on Israel’s Birthday, ‘Slap in Face’ to Arabs?

The planned date, which coincides with Israel’s 71^st Independence Day would be a “slap in the face,” says a Hamas official.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

On Thursday, Al-Khaleej Online reports that President Donald Trump will roll out his long-awaited Middle East peace plan on May 15, which also happens to be Israel’s Independence Day.

According to the daily, based in the United Arab Emirates, the ‘Deal of the Century’ is ready, and even includes the willingness of certain Arab countries to fund the economic side of the proposed agreement.

These countries are believed to be Saudi Arabia and other wealthy Arab Gulf States, such as the UAE.

According to the report, a Hamas official reacted sharply upon learning the date of the roll-out.

“Setting the date of the declaration on the anniversary of the Nakba is a slap in the face to all those who still see America as a fair mediator in resolving the conflict,” he said.

The Nakba, or “Catastrophe,” is the Arabs’ term for the establishment of the State of Israel on May 15, 1948.

Other release dates have been speculated on following the Trump administration’s announcement that it would wait until after Israel goes to the polls on April 9. Some of those dates take into consideration the fact that Israeli coalition building can take time after an election.

In Israel, official election results take about a week to be processed. The head of the leading party is then asked by the president to form the government and is given 28 days to do so. However, an extension of up to two weeks may be requested if the process is not completed in time.

It is unknown if the Americans will unveil their plan before a new Israeli government is in place, even if the makeup of the governing coalition is clear.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said on numerous occasions that Israel would carefully consider any plan put forward by its strongest ally. Palestinian Authority officials, including President Mahmoud Abbas, on the other hand, have repeatedly declared their intention to refuse to even consider the Deal of the Century.

Just this week, at the 30^th Arab League Summit in Tunisia, Abbas slammed Trump’s “dangerous” plan. He repeated the Palestinian stance that the administration’s U.S. Embassy move to Jerusalem and recognition of Israeli sovereignty on the Golan Heights has made it impossible for the U.S. to be an honest broker in the process.

Donald TrumpMiddle East peace process