US President Donald Trump and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met for the first time, expressing optimism about rebooting peace talks between Israel and the PA, facilitated by Trump, who didn\u2019 t mention the two-state solution Abbas seeks.<\/b>
\nTrump began his remarks in the Oval Office on Wednesday by praising Abbas for his work on the \u201cvery important\u201d 1993 agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians, called the Oslo I Accords, \u201cwhich laid the foundation for peace.\u201d Abbas was the signatory for the Palestinian Liberation Organization, and the agreement established the PA as a self-government body in 1994.
\u201cI want to support you in being the Palestinian leader who signs his name to the final and most important peace agreement that brings safety, stability, prosperity to both peoples and to the region, \u201d Trump said, adding that he\u2019s committed to working with both sides to reach such an agreement, one that \u201ccannot be imposed by the United States or by any other nation.\u201d
The US president promised to do \u201cwhatever is necessary\u201d to facilitate an agreement between the Palestinians and Israelis, who \u201cmust work together to reach an agreement that allows both peoples to live, worship and thrive and prosper in peace.\u201d
\u201cBut I would love to be a mediator or an arbitrator of a facilitator, and we will get this done, \u201d Trump added.
The US president admired the \u201ccontinued security coordination\u201d between the PA and Israel, saying he was \u201cactually very impressed and somewhat surprised\u201d that \u201cthey get along unbelievably well.\u201d
Trump warned the Palestinians, though, that \u201cthere can be no lasting peace unless the Palestinian leaders speak in a unified voice against incitement to violate and violence and hate.\u201d He also thanked Abbas for speaking out against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS\/ISIL) .
\u201cThere\u2019s such hatred, but hopefully there won\u2019 t be such hatred for very long, \u201d he added. \u201cAll children of God must be taught to value and respect human life and condemn all of those who target the innocent.\u201d
Trump also outlined his administration\u2019s efforts to create new economic opportunities for Palestinians through a \u201cpositive, ongoing partnership\u201d between the US and the PA \u201con a range of issues, \u201d including private sector development, regional security and counterterrorism. Abbas\u2019 visit is \u201ca demonstration of that partnership, that very special partnership that we all need to make it all work.\u201d
The US, Abbas and the Israelis \u201cwill be working so hard\u201d to get a peace agreement that\u2019s \u201cbeen a long time\u201d coming, Trump vowed, turning to Abbas. \u201cBut we will be working diligently, and I think there\u2019s a very, very good chance, and I think you feel the same way.\u201d
Abbas began his remarks, which were translated from Arabic, by expressing optimism that there will be a deal \u201cbased on the vision of the two states, a Palestinian state with its capital of East Jerusalem that lives in peace and stability with the state of Israel based on the borders of 1967.\u201d
A two-state solution between Israel and Palestine would \u201cgive a great impetus to the Arab peace initiative, \u201d Abbas continued, and enable his country \u201cto fight and deter terrorism, and fight the criminal ISIS group, ISIS that\u2026 has nothing to do with our noble religion.\u201d
Trump, with his \u201cgreat negotiating ability\u201d will be the key to a successful and \u201chistoric peace treaty, \u201d Abbas said, because of his determination and desire to get it done. The deal would not just be about a peaceful, two-state solution, but also about solving the issue of refugees and prisoners \u201caccording to international law.\u201d
\u201cIt\u2019s about time for Israel to end its occupation of our people and of our land after 50 years, \u201d Abbas said. \u201cWe are the only remaining people in the world that still live under occupation, \u201d and his people \u201cwant for Israel to recognize the Palestinian state, just as the Palestinian people recognize the state of Israel.\u201d
Abbas promised that Palestinians are raising \u201cour youth\u2026 on a culture of peace, \u201d and that the Holy Land will become a place \u201cwhere the three monotheist religions thrive\u2026 in an environment of security, peace, and stability and love for all.\u201d
The Palestinian leader concluded his remarks by turning to Trump and saying in English: \u201cNow, Mr. President, with you we have hope.\u201d
Trump noted that he and Abbas have spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as other Israeli and Palestinian leaders about moving forward with the peace process, \u201cwhich hopefully will lead to peace over the course of my lifetime.\u201d
\u201cI\u2019 ve always heard that perhaps the toughest deal to make is the deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians, \u201d Trump said. \u201cLet\u2019s see if we can prove them wrong.\u201d
Neither leader mentioned that Hamas, the governing authority of the Gaza Strip, released a new, 42-page charter on Tuesday that explicitly discusses accepting the concept of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, marking perhaps the best acceptance of a two-state solution by Abbas\u2019 political rivals. They also ignored that Trump is giving \u201cserious consideration\u201d to moving the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, according to Vice President Mike Pence, which would characterize a major change in American foreign policy, one that could strain relations between the US and the PA.
During a private meeting with Abbas, Trump «raised concerns about the payments to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have committed acts of terror and to their families and emphasized the need to resolve this issue, \u201d White House press secretary Sean Spicer said.<\/p>\n

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