What are PM’s top-five requests from Trump?
When President Donald Trump arrives in Israel next week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have the opportunity to make specific requests from the administration.
These are the key issues Israel is expected to bring up with the US: • Keep the pressure on Iran In the coming days, we will see if Trump waives sanctions on Iran and allows Tehran to keep funding its military assistance to Bashar Assad in Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
While Israel does not want to see Iranian funds freed up to meddle more in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza – all of which endanger Israeli security, it also does not want the nuclear deal to fall apart prematurely – or if it does, only due to an Iranian violation, not a US failure to meet an obligation – lest Iran be free to rely on a bomb even sooner
than Israel worries it will.
In general, Israel wants to be on the same page with the administration regarding the continued pressure needed to curb Iran’s development of ballistic missiles and support of terrorism.
During a press conference last month with visiting US Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman urged the administration to “place more pressure and sanctions on the Iranian regime.”
•
Stabilize Syria and recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights
Israel has two requests regarding Syria. It wants to ensure that its security interests are accounted for in any deal that Trump might reach with Russia to end the civil war in Syria. Specifically, Israel wants to make sure that Iran and Hezbollah will not remain in Syria after the end of the war and will not be allowed to establish a presence on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights.
Netanyahu is also seeking recognition from Trump for Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan, conquered 50 years ago during the Six Day War. This came up during their meeting at the White House in February and was repeated last week by Intelligence Minister Israel Katz who proposed that Jerusalem and Washington reach a five-pointed understanding on the issue of the Syrian civil war and the implications it has on Israel’s security.
• Move the embassy to Jerusalem
This seems to be the most contentious issue right now between the two governments. On Sunday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson poured cold water on the eventuality of the embassy being moved to Jerusalem, telling a US interviewer that the decision “will be informed by the parties involved in those talks – and most certainly Israel’s view – and whether Israel views it as helpful to a peace initiative or perhaps a distraction.”
Netanyahu was quick to respond, saying that by moving the embassy, Trump would actually be advancing the peace process by smashing the Palestinian fantasy that Jerusalem is not Israel’s capital. Trump made the promise to move the embassy during his campaign. After he was elected, there were reports that an announcement would happen in the first days of his administration.
Netanyahu is expected to use Trump’s visit next week to pressure him on the issue.
• Settlement construction and protection of Israel’s interests in potential peace talks with the Palestinians
Trump seems determined to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. While he will likely refrain from getting the leaders together during his trip next week, he will try to convince the sides to reengage with one another.
Israel will seek to impress upon Trump the difficulty in reaching a deal based on the Palestinian demands of 1967 lines, right of return and Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. Israel will also work to convince Trump of the need for a future Palestinian state to remain demilitarized.
Netanyahu would also like a green light from the president to be able to build in all of Jerusalem as well as in the settlement blocs. He fears having to agree to a new settlement freeze that could prompt Bayit Yehudi to pull out of his coalition.
Netanyahu has been trying since his trip to the White House in February, to reach understandings with the administration over settlement construction. Netanyahu reportedly postponed a meeting of a settlement planning committee last week until after Trump’s visit to not infuriate the president.
• Retain Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region
Trump is expected to approve a massive sale of approximately $100 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia. While Israel backs military support to the Saudis and other Gulf states that are aligned against Iran, it is in constant talks with the White House and the Pentagon about ways to ensure Israel retains a qualitative military edge in the region by always being the first to receive superior American weapons systems and munitions.
Israel is currently in talks with the Pentagon about how it plans to spend the $38 b. military aid package signed at the end of Barack Obama’s presidency. It is expected to seek permission to purchase new transport helicopters, smart bombs, bunker busters, more F-35 stealth fighter jets and an assortment of additional weapons and intelligence systems. •