Former US Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt, said Thursday that while he "understood that Israeli society was very divided" on whether or not to annex Judea and Samaria, "they ought to first of all be very grateful to US President Donald Trump.
In his message, which Greenblatt said at the Shurat Hadin roundtable, he added that, "what the administration has done have been incredible for the State of Israel" and that "not to acknowledge that and instead go on the attack…is really not very appropriate."
"If we didn't go far enough [in guaranteeing Israel's security], I would like to hear from them where we fell short and how we can improve it," he stated.
He said that if a Palestinian state does come into being, "but they end up abrogating the agreements," Israel will have the ability to "go back in and do what they need to do to protect [themselves] without fear of…sanctions and condemnations on the part of [international bodies]."
Greenblatt said he hoped "Israel proceeds with all [parts of applying sovereignty], some, or whatever it thinks is appropriate," because "not doing it will not bring peace any closer" and "doing it finally shows the Palestinians that life moves on and we can't stay in limbo forever."
Earlier on Thursday, US President Donald Trump's senior advisor Kellyanne Conway told journalists: "There are conversations being had in the White House on the matter of annexation. Obviously the President will have an announcement. He’s talked about this in the past and I’ll leave it to him to give you a big announcement."
Conway added that, "All the calamity scenarios of the past are gone. Let’s just see, because he wants to be an agent for peace in the Middle East, and he’s trying to do that."
