On Tuesday, January 28 President Donald Trump released his “deal of the century” plan for Middle East peace, called Peace to Prosperity, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Below, you will find RA resolutions, statements from Jewish organizations, and news articles and opinion pieces that will help you discuss this issue with your communities in an informed way.
This list will be updated regularly. Please contact our communications specialist, Diana Denza, at ddenza@rabbinicalassembly.org if you'd like to submit a resource.
Rabbinical Assembly Resolutions:
Each year the Rabbinical Assembly passes a number of resolutions on pressing matters impacting the countries and regions where we live, the State of Israel and the future of our shared world. Here is a list of resolutions that the RA has passed with regards to Israel and the Middle East.
Below are RA resolutions most applicable to the current “peace talks”:
- Proclamation Celebrating the 65th Anniversary of the State of Israel (2013)
- Resolution on Unilateral Declaration of Statehood (2011)
- Resolution Celebrating the State of Israel (2007)
- Resolution on the Israeli Peace Process (2005)
Statements from Jewish Organizations:
Conference of Presidents Welcomes Peace to Prosperity Plan
Arthur Stark, Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, who attended the White House event with President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu today, issued the following statement. [Link]
J Street - The Trump Peace Sham: A roundup of analysis and statements of opposition to Trump's dangerous peace sham. [Link]
J Street also started a petition against Trump’s “annexation plan,” which can be viewed and signed here.
AIPAC Statement on U.S. Peace Framework
[This week] the Trump administration released its framework to help achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians. We appreciate the efforts of President Trump and his administration to work in consultation with the leaders of the two major Israeli political parties to set forth ideas to resolve the conflict in a way that recognizes our ally’s critical security needs. Indeed, both Israeli political leaders view this framework as the basis to restart negotiations with the Palestinians. [Link]
T’ruah Rejects So-Called “Peace Plan” Put Forth By Trump, Kushner
T’ruah rejects in the strongest possible terms the so-called “peace plan” put forth today by Trump, Kushner, and Netanyahu. A true agreement requires input from all parties involved. By excluding Palestinian leadership from the table, Trump has demonstrated that this plan has never been about achieving peace and stability, but rather has always been an attempt to advance the agenda of Prime Minister Netanyahu and the annexationist, far-right settlement movement. [Link]
T'ruah also has a 16-page downloadable booklet about the “Israeli occupation” and a webinar for clergy about the implications of the Trump “peace plan.”
News Articles:
Read full text: US unveils 50-page Israeli-Palestinian peace plan
By TOI Staff and Agencies, Times of Israel
Peace to Prosperity proposal, which completes earlier 30-page economic scheme, contains detailed maps, doubles Palestinian territory but allows Israel to hold chunks of West Bank. [Link]
The 'Deal of the Century': What are its key points?
By Lahav Harkov and Herb Keinon, Jerusalem Post
Three years in the making, the “Deal of the Century,” US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, has finally been revealed. [Link]
Borders, security, Jerusalem, settlements, refugees: Key elements of Trump plan
By Jacob Magid, Times of Israel
How is the territory to be divided? How could two capitals function in an ‘undivided’ city? What are the conditions for Palestinian statehood? [Link]
Opinion Pieces:
Ten things about the borders, bridges and tunnels of the Trump peace plan
By Seth J. Frantzman, Jerusalem Post
No other state in the world looks so gerrymandered. It would be a state without an airport or real ports, and one that is inside another state – whose borders are basically controlled by Israel. [Link]
West Bank Sovereignty for Israel Peace Plan’s Sticking Point
By Stewart Ain, Times of Israel
Trump proposal highlights community’s fault lines as Israeli cabinet could soon extend Israeli law. [Link]