"They work together beautifully".
He didn't speak of the two-state solution, didn't mention any freeze on Israeli settlements and was totally silent on the issue of Jerusalem - even though Abbas called East Jerusalem the capital of the hoped-for state of Palestine.
President Donald Trump is moving forward with his plans to broker the ultimate deal: peace in the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had launched a campaign during the past few weeks over the prisoner wages, saying that a halt in the payments will be practical evidence of the Palestinians' desire to make peace.
The P.A. "needs to recognize the state of the Jews just like they are demanding from us that we recognize the state of the Palestinians", Netanyahu has stated; Abbas has long rejected the demand.
U.S. president said, emanating his trademark bravado.
Trump critics, and many participants from previous rounds of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, deride the lack of detail and the chasm between the sky-high rhetoric and the absence of experience and expertise in the White House to deliver on the substance.
"We had planned to meet in Moscow, but he didn't show up", Mr Abbas said, referring to Russian efforts several months ago to set up talks. In the past, Abbas balked at the idea of such a summit, saying it would be pointless without general agreement on the framework of negotiations and a significant curb in settlement construction.
Trump's introduction to Abbas made that plain.
"Trump clearly said he is able to make peace and resolve the conflict between the two sides, and he vowed to do his best to make them committed to watch their practices on the ground", the professor added.
Opec output cut extension emerging hope, may pave the way for recovery
The global benchmark, Brent crude, fall to a five month low of $46.64 a barrel that put OPEC's effectiveness under doubt. Crude prices rose further in Asia on Thursday, building on overnight gains following an upbeat report on USA inventories.
Trump is slated to arrive in Israel on May 22. The two leaders discussed the importance of the United States-Palestinian partnership in building and sustaining the capacity of Palestinian security forces to counter terrorism, maintaining peace and security for the Palestinians, and continuing strong coordination with the Israeli government to benefit both peoples.
"This is something Israel is always ready for", he declared.
Abbas said he believes it is possible to reach a historic peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians.
A senior United States official said on Tuesday that the issue of payments had been raised in preliminary talks with the Palestinians in Washington. Abbas has said the issue was not raised in his talks with Trump. Officials now say Friedman, who is expected to take up his post next week, will live at the residence.
His positive portrayal of the meeting with Mr Trump may not be enough for a sceptical public at home.
Over the course of his campaign, Trump hinted at dropping the traditional two-state solution past presidents have supported (he also mulled moving the USA embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the disputed holy city claimed by both Palestinians and Israelis).
In 50 years of Israeli rule, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been jailed by Israel at some point, affecting virtually all Palestinian families. "There is no reason there's not peace between Israel and the Palestinians - none whatsoever".
Some 6,500 Palestinians are now in Israeli prisons.
Other attendees included journalists such as New York Times columnist Tom Friedman, Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, former congressman Robert Wexler, former Obama administration State Department official Tamara Cofman Wittes, and Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, who this year accused Israel of "apartheid".
Comments