ISRAEL: Axios-Trump's Board Of Peace To Unveil USD2.45bln Gaza Recovery Plan
Axios reports: that the 'Board of Peace' set up by US President Donald Trump is set to outline a USD2.45bln post-war reconstruction and governance plan for Gaza later on 23 September. The report notes that for the plan to advance, both Israel and Gaza must agree to and cooperate on its implementation. * Axios: "While the Netanyahu government has agreed in principle to aspects of the plan that have been previously discussed, it refused to start implementing it, mainly for domestic political reasons ahead of the elections. And while Hamas agreed in principle to disarm, it hasn't been tested yet, partly because Israel won't implement a 14-day ceasefire before the demilitarisation process starts." * The Israeli general election on 27 October may not deliver a clear mandate to either PM Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition or the anti-Netanyahu liberal zionist coalition in which former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar is set to be the largest party. Instead, the Islamist Ra'am and Arab interest Joint List could hold the balance of power, requiring an (unlikely) cross-community coalition or parties shifting between the pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs. * Lengthy coalition nego
45bln post-war reconstruction and governance plan for Gaza later on 23 September. The report notes that for the plan to advance, both Israel and Gaza must agree to and cooperate on its implementation. * Axios: "While the Netanyahu government has agreed in principle to aspects of the plan that have been previously discussed, it refused to start implementing it, mainly for domestic political reasons ahead of the elections.
" * The Israeli general election on 27 October may not deliver a clear mandate to either PM Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition or the anti-Netanyahu liberal zionist coalition in which former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar is set to be the largest party. Instead, the Islamist Ra'am and Arab interest Joint List could hold the balance of power, requiring an (unlikely) cross-community coalition or parties shifting between the pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs. * Lengthy coalition negotiations will further delay the implementation of the plan, as will the need to secure funding.
The report claims the Board of Peace and the Palestinian technocratic gov't are yet to ensure the requisite financing, but the Board claims not all of the funds will be required for the technocratic gov't to begin operating in Gaza.