Eye to Eye event? Trump’s deal of the century and Hurricane Florence
Virtually every major hurricane since the beginning of the Israeli-Palestinians’ peace process in Madrid, Spain, held from October 30-Nov. 1, 1991, have corresponded to White House involvement in Israel’s land. These have all occurred at the time U.S. presidents were actively pressuring and/or inducing Israel to make peace with the Palestinians by agreeing to give up large parts of Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem for promises of peace and security.
The following is a timeline of the Trump administration peace efforts and public comments in the last two weeks. These occurred at the same time Florence developed and then became a major hurricane that is expected to be a $50 billion plus event, which will place Florence in the top five costliest storms in U.S. history.
President Trump will now have been the president during four of the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history, including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria during the month of Elul in 2017.
President Trump is the best friend that Israel has ever had in the White House. He has been and done the following:
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Been a major supporter of Israel.
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committed to a peace deal between Israel, the Palestinians and Sunni Arabs for the right reason.
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Appointed David Friedman, a staunch Zionist who speaks of Israel’s biblical right to the land of Israel, as his ambassador to Israel.
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Created his dream team of Pence, Pompeo, Mattis, Bolton and Haley, who are all pro-Israel and great defenders of Israel.
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Canceled the Iran nuclear deal over Iran’s terrorism support, the developing of missiles, and the constant threats to Israel.
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Moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, as promised.
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Made a major commitment to Israel’s defense.
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Appointed Nikki Haley as U.N. ambassador; she has condemned the U.N.’s bias to Israel numerous times.
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Instructed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to remove the U.S. from UNHRC for their bias against Israel.
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Appointed John Bolton, who condemned the International Criminal Court and warned them on their treatment of Israel on Monday in his speech to the Federalist Society, as national security advisor.
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Stopped funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Palestinian refugee facilities that have turned into terror training schools and camps.
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Closed the PLO office in Washington, D.C., an office that was to help support the peace process.
One of the main motives for President Trump’s stopping the UNRWA funding, cutting $200 million in aid to Palestinians, and closing the PLO office in Washington, D.C., was to pressure them to get re-involved in the peace process with Israel.
Concerning the dates of Tuesday, Sept. 4, and Wednesday Sept. 5, the Palestine Chroniclereported that “the team, led by the president’s son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner and special envoy Jason Greenblatt, has been participating in briefing sessions and conference calls with Jewish organizations and donors to US political parties, in an attempt to alleviate any concerns they may have prior to its official release and to stem potential criticism of the plan.
“Kushner and Greenblatt reportedly held several such meetings in New York, alongside US envoy to the UN Nikki Haley, who on Tuesday described the Trump plan as ‘thorough’”.
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Tuesday, September 4:
Haley: Trump's Israeli-Palestinian 'deal of the century' can happen if Abbas comes to the table - Fox News
“‘I can tell you that (White House senior adviser) Jared Kushner and (Trump’s special envoy for international negotiations) Jason Greenblatt have done unbelievably detailed work in it. I have read the plan. It is thoroughly done. It is well-thought-out from both sides, the Palestinians and the Israelis.’
“She continued, ‘The president’s full intent is to completely do everything he can with the peace plan.’”
Tropical Storm Florence became Hurricane Florence according to the NHC
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Wednesday, September 5:
The Emir of Kuwait visited the White House as Florence was continuing to develop. Last year on September 7, President Trump had a joint press conference with the emir as Hurricane Irma was developing into a record-setting Atlantic Hurricane.
The emir stated the following to President Trump: “And the latest political developments in the international and regional arena, in this respect, I find it incumbent upon myself to pay a tribute to the positive role and the great and appreciated force that the United States exerts to achieve peace and stability in our region and the world.”
According to the National Hurricane Center Hurricane Florence becomes a major hurricane of 125 mph as a Category 3 storm. Just five mph away from a Category 4.
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Thursday, September 6, 2018:
Remarks by President Trump in Rosh Hashanah National Press Call with Jewish Faith Leaders and Rabbis; committed to an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal that he thinks can be made – White House transcript
Alan Dershowitz question:
So, Mr. President, should the Jewish community be optimistic that you can help bring about a peaceful resolution of the conflict that we all pray for all the time?
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Alan. I think the answer to that is a very strong yes — you should be. It is, as I said before, really considered to be one of the toughest deals to make of any kind. I don’t kind what kind of a deal you’re talking about. If you look at Israel and the Palestinians, it’s always top of everybody’s list in terms of levels of difficulty.
But we’re going to be able to get it done.
For the rest of the transcript, click here: White House transcript
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Saturday, September 8, 2018
Q&A: Special Envoy Jason Greenblatt Details the Thinking Behind the Mideast Peace Plan - JNS
Tasked by U.S. President Donald Trump to help reach the “deal of the century,” Jason Greenblatt, who serves as one of Trump’s top Middle East envoys, has a herculean task before him: to help negotiate the peace plan between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
Along with Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, Greenblatt—whose officially title is assistant to the president and special representative for international negotiations—has been the face of the Trump administration’s efforts to roll out a comprehensive plan for Mideast peace. He has traveled numerous times to the region over the past 18 months, often meeting with top officials from Israel and the Arab world to gauge the situation.
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Sunday, September 9:
Late Sunday afternoon, Sept. 9, Hurricane Florence became a massive Hurricane 4 storm.
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September 10, 2018
Closure of the PLO Office in Washington is an attempt to force Palestinians to peace talks
https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2018/09/285812.htm
Press Statement
Heather Nauert
Department Spokesperson
Washington, DC
September 10, 2018
The Administration has determined after careful review that the office of the General Delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Washington should close. We have permitted the PLO office to conduct operations that support the objective of achieving a lasting, comprehensive peace between Israelis and the Palestinians since the expiration of a previous waiver in November 2017. However, the PLO has not taken steps to advance the start of direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel.
To the contrary, PLO leadership has condemned a U.S. peace plan they have not yet seen and refused to engage with the U.S. government with respect to peace efforts and otherwise. As such, and reflecting Congressional concerns, the Administration has decided that the PLO office in Washington will close at this point. This decision is also consistent with Administration and Congressional concerns with Palestinian attempts to prompt an investigation of Israel by the International Criminal Court.
The United States continues to believe that direct negotiations between the two parties are the only way forward. This action should not be exploited by those who seek to act as spoilers to distract from the imperative of reaching a peace agreement. We are not retreating from our efforts to achieve a lasting and comprehensive peace.
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Monday, September 10, 2018
Excerpt of text of John Bolton's speech to the Federalist Society; speaks against International Criminal Court and defends Israel
Israel too has sharply criticized the ICC. While the court welcomes the membership of the so-called "State of Palestine", it has threatened Israel - a liberal, democratic nation - with investigation into its actions to defend citizens from terrorist attacks in the West Bank and Gaza. There has also been a suggestion that the ICC will investigate Israeli construction of housing projects on the West Bank.
The United States will always stand with our friend and ally, Israel. And today, reflecting congressional concerns with Palestinian attempts to prompt an ICC investigation of Israel, the State Department will announce the closure of the Palestine Liberation Organization office here in Washington, DC.
As President [Ronald] Reagan recognized in this context, the executive has "the right to decide the kind of foreign relations, if any, the United States will maintain", and the Trump administration will not keep the office open when the Palestinians refuse to take steps to start direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel. The United States supports a direct and robust peace process, and we will not allow the ICC, or any other organization, to constrain Israel's right to self-defense.
"If the court comes after us, Israel or other US allies, we will not sit quietly. We will take the following steps, among others, in accordance with the American Servicemembers' Protection Act and our other legal authorities:
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September 12, 2018:
Envoy Jason Greenblatt's Twitter comments on Trump peace plan, Wednesday, Sept. 12
Thursday, September 13, 2018
U.S. expects some Israeli criticism of parts of coming Mideast plan: envoy
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration is prepared for Israeli criticism of elements of its coming Middle East peace plan, the U.S. envoy to the region said, even as Washington faces growing Palestinian accusations that it will be heavily tilted in favor of Israel.
But he declined to specify a time frame, except to say it would not be announced at the U.N. General Assembly gathering in New York later this month or offer any details of a proposal that has drawn deep skepticism even before its unveiling.
Pushing back against widespread perceptions among Palestinians, Arab officials and independent analysts that the peace plan is likely to be decidedly pro-Israel, Greenblatt made clear that both sides can expect parts they will like and dislike.
“We’re going to have to defend the plan to Israelis and Palestinians. We are ready for criticism from all sides, but we believe this is the best path forward for everyone,” he said as the administration moved to finalize the initiative, which is led by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
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Hurricane Florence path shift 'bizarre,' could bring 'catastrophic flooding' to Southeast
September 12, 2018
Source: USA Today
The weird saga of Hurricane Florence, which has already carved an unprecedented path across the Atlantic, is forecast to persist with a strange stall and trek along the Southeast coast.
Instead of roaring ashore and quickly heading inland and weakening, as most storms do, Hurricane Florence should instead "stall near the coast and then parallel southwestward toward Georgia," Weather Channel meteorologist Greg Postel said. "I've never seen anything like this."
AccuWeather meteorologist Marshall Moss said Florence's track is unique. "It was located farther north in the Atlantic than any other storm to ever hit the Carolinas, so what we’re forecasting is unprecedented," Moss said.
Also, most storms coming into the Carolinas tend to move northward, and this storm looks like it’s going to stall over the region, Moss added.
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Hurricane Florence Joins the Ranks of Weirdest Hurricane and Tropical Storm Tracks
September 12, 2018
Source: Weather Channel
Florence's path has already been a weird one and it's forecast to get stranger through the end of this week.
Many hurricanes follow very clear tracks, for example, a curve around the south and west sides of the Bermuda-Azores high in the Atlantic Basin, or just a straight buzzsaw through the Caribbean Sea.
In these cases, the atmosphere's steering flow is strong and persistent enough to keep the hurricane on a steady path. Forecast tracks of those are, straightforward.
Then, you have others like Florence.
Late last week Florence was in a spot that's typically far enough north for a hurricane to curve out to sea and not impact the United States. In fact, no tropical storm or hurricane in recorded history has passed within 100 miles of Florence's location last Friday and still made a United States landfall.
Peace plan delivery
Originally, President Trump was to present his plan to the U.N. on Sept. 25. Haley said last week that there is not a specific date; it may be later. Doesn’t mean he still won’t. Something is up in the heavenlies.
Isaac has become a hurricane and heading toward the Lesser Antilles. The last time a storm named Isaac formed was the day the Republican Platform Committee endorsed two state plans in August 2012. Isaac caused the 2012 Republican Convention to cancel their first day.