Trump meets Palestinian President, vows to broker peace with Israel
US President Donald Trump said during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House that he would work harder to broker peace between Israel and Palestine. However, Trump didn't provide any details on how he would break the deadlock and revive long-stalled peace negotiations. The pro-Israeli Trump said he was prepared to act as mediator, facilitator or arbitrator between both sides.
Balancing Israel in West Asia: The US challenge
Balancing ties with the Arab world while supporting Israel has been a challenge to US foreign policy. While the US continues supporting and aiding Arab states to further their policies in the region, Arab states have long been opposed to Israel's very existence. On the other hand, Israel was long seen as key partner in reigning in Iran's designs for West Asia.
Trump remains dodgy on Israel-Palestine peace
On February 17, Donald Trump signalled that the creation of a Palestinian state was not essential for constructive peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians, backing away from decades of US foreign policy. He said he was fine with both, a two-state as well as one-state solution. He made the statements after a meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
Trump urges Palestinians to stop inciting violence against Israelis
Trump urged Palestinian leaders to "speak in a unified voice against incitement" of violence against Israelis. Trump also stopped short of recommitting his administration to the US' longstanding policy of supporting the two-state solution which calls for the creation of separate Israeli and Palestinian nations. Abbas said the goal of establishing a Palestinian state was vital to any peace process.
Abbas: 'It's about time Israel ends its occupation of Palestine'
The last round of Israel-Palestine talks brokered by the US had collapsed in 2014. A hopeful Abbas told Trump that under his "courageous stewardship and your wisdom, as well as your great negotiations ability," the Palestinians would be partners seeking a "historic peace treaty." He said "it's about time for Israel to end its occupation of our people and our land."
Expectations for significant progress remain low
Trump may visit Israel on May 22-23rd but the White House hasn't confirmed this. It will be difficult for Abbas to come back to the negotiating table unless a long-standing pre-condition of a halt in Jewish settlement expansion on the claimed by Palestinians happens. Palestinians fear they may not get a fair hearing due to Trump's pro-election election campaign rhetoric.
Trump small concessions could help peace process
Trump promise to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which angered the Palestinians, has been placed on the back-burner. Trump had told Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting in February to place unspecified limits on Jewish settlement expansion.
