Trump invites Palestinian leader to the White House

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SUNWAI, MANGr Trump invites Palestinian leader to the White House ASSOCIATED PRESS is a very honest man, very courageous man, RAMALLAH, West Bank - President looking for a deal, a just deal." Trump invited Palestinian leader Mah- There was no immediate comment noud Abbas to the White House to discuss from the Israeli government. esuming peace talks in their first contact ince Trump took office in January.

The last round of U.S.-mediated peace talks collapsed in 2014. Abbas' spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeneh Friday's call was the first between Trump said that Abbas would travel "very soon." and Abbas since Trump took office.

The White House said in a statement that In his efforts to secure Palestinian state- he two leaders on Friday discussed ways hood, Abbas has spent many hours on the o advance peace throughout phone and in meetings with he Middle East, including a U.S. presidents and secretar- omprehensive agreement hat would end the Israeli-Pal- ies of state over the past de- cade, but has been unsuccess- stinian conflict. ful when reaching out to "The president emphasized Trump - until now. is personal belief that peace is ossible and that the time has Trump is unpopular among Palestinians because he ap- come to make a deal," the peared to break from his prede- White House said.

"The presi- lent noted that such a deal cessor and adopt friendlier po- sitions toward Israel: Ambiva- vould not only give Israelis lence has marked his position ind Palestinians the peace and toward a two-state solution to security they deserve, but that t would reverberate positively Mahmoud Abbas the conflict; he's considering moving the U.S.

Embassy in Is- hroughout the region and the world." rael to Jerusalem, which the Palestinians Trump underscored that such a peace seek as the capital of their future state; and greement must be negotiated directly be- he has adopted a more lenient approach to ween the two parties, and that the United Israel's building settlements in territory states will work closely with Palestinian and claimed by the Palestinians. sraeli leadership to make progress toward However, Trump's administration last hat goal, the statement said. week warned Israel against annexing parts "We are ready to deal with President of the West Bank, saying it would trigger an Trump and the Israeli government to re- "immediate crisis" between the two allies. ume the negotiations," Abu Rdeneh said.

That move suggested Trump may be return- If the Israelis are ready, President Abbas ing to more traditional U.S. policy and will as committed himself to a peaceful deal not give Israel free rein to expand its control vith President Trump." over the West Bank and sideline the Palestin- Abu Rdeneh added that "President Trump ians, as Israeli nationalists had hoped.

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"Trump invites Palestinian leader to the White House," Philadelphia Inquirer, 12 March 2017. Covering Palestine archive, CP-2017-014. https://coveringpalestine.org/archive/cp-2017-014