Trump Envoy Greenblatt, Netanyahu Meet For Five Hours In Jerusalem

President Donald Trump called Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas a few days ago, inviting him to the White House to discuss advancing peace in the entire Middle East, including between Palestinians and Israelis.

The US ambassador to the United Nations said Palestinians should engage in “direct peace negotiations, rather than looking to the UN”.

“The president invited president Abbas to a meeting at the White House in the near future”.

Before that happens, Abbas is hoping to forge some kind of unity amongst the fractious organizations – both political and military – that make up the Palestinian Authority. The PMO statement said that Greenblatt emphasized that Trump was “very interested” in encouraging Palestinian economic growth and improving the living conditions for the Palestinians.

During a Sunday address at a graduation ceremony for public-sector employees, Abbas told the crowd that Trump reaffirmed, during the call, his commitment to the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. They will also talk about construction plans in Israeli towns and cities in Judea and Samaria.

Jason Greenblatt meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday.

The conversation marked the first time the US President – who has declared himself a staunch supporter of Israel – has dealt directly with Palestinian officials, although CIA Director Mike Pompeo met with Palestinian Authority figures in Ramallah last month.

The visit is primarily meant to help to formulate the Trump administration’s policy on West Bank settlements, including what the USA will accept in terms of construction, Channel 2 reported last week.

Trump has expressed an eagerness to bring about a peace deal while retreating from 15 years of USA policy backing a two-state outcome to the peace process.

Accompanying Greenblatt on his trip is Yael Lempert, who held the Israel portfolio for the National Security Council at the White House during the Obama administration and has remained in the position under President Trump. The Knesset Land of Israel Caucus, a pro-settlement group of lawmakers including members of Netanyahu’s Likud Party and others, said Trump’s election is an “historic opportunity”, calling for the government to accordingly “resume building.in every part of our land”.