Gantz Will Meet Trump Separately From Netanyahu to Discuss Peace Plan

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RAMAT GAN, Israel — Benny Gantz, the former Israeli military chief making a third attempt to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Saturday that he would visit President Trump on his own at the White House on Monday to discuss a plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The surprise announcement means Mr. Gantz will avoid an awkward three-way meeting with Mr. Trump that Mr. Netanyahu had sought to orchestrate at the White House the following day.

Calling himself “the president’s full and committed partner,” Mr. Gantz pointedly said, in English, that he would be meeting with Mr. Trump “as the leader of the largest party in Israel.”

It also means that he will be able to return for Israel in time to oversee a key vote Tuesday on Mr. Netanyahu’s attempt to obtain parliamentary immunity from prosecution on serious corruption charges. Had Mr. Gantz attended a Tuesday meeting, it likely would have forced a delay in that vote.

“Following this important meeting, I will return to Israel in order to lead the debates regarding Netanyahu’s immunity from up close,” Mr. Gantz said in Hebrew, adding: “These are not regular days for the state of Israel.



Source : Nytimes