Jason Greenblatt isn’t sure Israelis, Palestinians ready for peace
J-Post

“Jason Greenblatt, President Donald Trump’s former Middle East negotiator, made his first public speech since leaving the White House on Sunday night (Jan.12). Greenblatt, 52, who worked as a lawyer for Trump for two decades prior to joining the administration, spoke at Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck, New Jersey, the Modern Orthodox synagogue where he is a member. The event was organized by the Northern New Jersey Holocaust Memorial & Education Center to raise money for a new Holocaust memorial in the township, which has a significant Jewish population.” 

Image: Jason Greenblatt speaking at the Northern New Jersey Holocaust Memorial & Education Center, Jan. 14, 2020. (Courtesy)

Even if Trump’s peace plan released now, Area C is still a battleground
J-Post

“Let’s say US President Donald Trump does release his peace plan, known as the ‘Deal of the Century,’ prior to the Israeli elections. It would generate immense debate and empower already entrenched parties, but do little to achieve pragmatic actions on the ground when it comes to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The absence of an Israeli government would mean that no negotiations could actually occur with the Palestinians, because there is no Israeli government to participate in those talks. And that, of course, assumes that the Palestinians would want to hold talks, something they are unlikely to do, having already rejected the plan sight unseen.”

Image: Palestinian boys inspect a house that was demolished by Israeli forces in al-Khader village near Bethlehem, in the West Bank December 16, 2019. (Mussa Qawasma/Reuters)

Top Trump official rejects claims releasing Peace Plan before Israel election is 'interference'
Haaretz

"U.S. President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Robert O'Brien told Axios that releasing the Mideast peace plan before Israel's March 2 general election wouldn't harm Israel's electoral process. The peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians has been in deep freeze since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a government after Israel's April 9 election. The U.S. security adviser, however, added in an interview published Monday that the Trump administration has ‘no illusion’ that releasing the long-awaited plan ‘will be an easy process.’” 

Image: Senior adviser Jared Kushner, left, talks with national security adviser Robert O'Brien at the White House in Washington, November 13, 2019. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

New War Powers Resolution gains key GOP support, boosting chances of Senate passage
NPR

“A Democratic-led Senate resolution to limit the president's war powers in the wake of escalated tensions with Iran has won support from several key GOP members to potentially gain passage in the Republican-controlled chamber. Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Mike Lee of Utah, Todd Young of Indiana and Susan Collins of Maine have all signed on as co-sponsors to the measure led by Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine. That would bring the total number of supporters for the measure to 51, a simple majority of the Senate needed for passage. The resolution would require the president to seek congressional approval before another military-led strike against Iran.” 

Image: Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee, has introduced a resolution forcing President Trump to seek congressional consent before taking new military action against Iran. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

France, Germany and U.K. serve notice on Iran under Nuclear Deal
NY Times

“Britain, France and Germany on Tuesday formally accused Iran of breaking the 2015 agreement that limited its nuclear program, taking the first step toward reimposing United Nations sanctions. The European countries started the clock running on what could be some 60 days of negotiations with Iran about coming back into full compliance with the nuclear deal. Under the agreement, if they cannot resolve their dispute, that could revive United Nations sanctions on Iran that had been suspended under the deal, including an arms embargo. The move, which had been expected for more than a week, was delayed when the United States killed a top Iranian commander, Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, with repercussions that are still playing out in Iran and across the region."

Image:The reactor building of a Russian-built nuclear power plant near Bushehr, in southern Iran, in 2010. (Majid Asgaripour/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Hamas intensifies Western dialogues to break political isolation
Al-Monitor

“The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported Dec. 31 that Hamas has intensified its meetings with European and US officials in a bid to break its international political isolation and open new channels of communication with the West. A meeting was held in Doha between former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and Robert Malley, president of the International Crisis Group (ICG) in Washington, who served as Middle East special adviser to President Barack Obama. This was not the first meeting between the two men. Meanwhile, Mousa Abu Marzouk, the head of Hamas’ international relations, held meetings with former officials from Switzerland, France and the UK.”

Image: Deputy Hamas chief Mousa Abu Marzouk gestures during an interview with Reuters in Gaza City, Dec. 17, 2014. (Reuters/Mohammed Salem)