Trump might turn to Arab allies for help with Israeli-Palestinian relations

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DIPLOMACY authorized a statement that, region, opening the possibilBY PETER BAKER for the first time, cautioned Ity that this newfound, if not ANUAKENES Isracl against building new always public, attiliation New York Times West Bank settlements becould change the dynamics.

WASHINGTON "The logic of outside-in is yond existing lines. that because the Palestinians "There are some quite President Donald Trump are so weak and divided interesting ideas circulating and his advisers, venturing for the first time into the on the potential for U.S.and because there's a new, fraught world of Middle Isracli-Arab discussions on tacit relationship between the regional security in which Sunni Arabs and IsraelEast peacemaking, are deIsracli-Palestinian issues there's the hope the Arabs veloping a strategy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be prepared to do would play a significant that would enlist Arab narole," said Robert Satloff, more," said Dennis B.

Ross, a EVAN VUCCI AP the executive director of the Middle East peace negotiator tions like Saudi Arabia and Washington Institute for Egypt to break years of deaunder several presidents, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, right, talks with King Abdullah of Jordan this month during dock. Near East Policy. the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington. including Obama.

That is a departure from The emerging approach The notion of recruiting the countervailing assumpmirrors the thinking of Arab countries to help forge Prime Minister Benjamin Trump has assigned a major an agreement between Istion that if Israel first made Zayed al-Nahyan, the crown that it should not alienate raclis and Palestinians prince of Abu Dhabi; and role in negotiations, has Arab allies who could help. peace with the Palestinians, Netanyahu of Israel, who known as the "outside-in" will visit the United States it would lead to peace with been intrigued by this logic, President Recep Tayyip Several days later, the the larger Arab world - the next week, and would build according to people who Erdogan of Turkey.

Kushner king buttonholed Trump on approach - is not a new one. the sidelines of the National on his de facto alignment "inside-out" approach. That have spoken with him.

As secretary of state under has also met with Arab offiwith Sunni Muslim countries was at the core of President Prayer Breakfast and made Kushner has grown close to cials, including Yousef Al President George H.W. in trying to counter the rise Bush, James Baker orgaOtaiba, the ambassador Bill Clinton's attempts to Ron Dermer, the Isracli a similar case.

He advised from the United Arab Emirof Shiite-led Iran.

But Arab nized the first regional conbring the two sides together ambassador and a close against a radical shift in U.S. and was Obama's fallback ference in 1991 at which officials have warned Trump confidant of Netanyahu's. policy and emphasized the Trump and Kushner also Arab leaders sat down with Jordan's King Abdullah II position after his efforts to risks that Jordan would face and his advisers that if they want coopcration, the UnitIsraci's prime minister. find Arab partners failed. had dinner at the White seems to have played a parif Israci were to become ed States cannot make life Netanyahu, who is due at even more assertive about ticularly pivotal role.

ConPresident George W. Bush House on Thursday night harder for them with probuilding settlements, acinvited Arab leaders to a the White House on cerned that an embassy with Sheldon Adelson, the summit meeting with Israel casino magnate and key cording to people who spoke vocative pro-israel moves.

Wednesday, has been talkmove would anger Palestiwith Kushner and Steve The White House seems ing about an outside-in in Maryland in 2007. And nians living in his country, supporter of Netanyahu. President Barack Obama's A series of telephone to be taking the advice. Bannon, the chief White approach for a while.

His the king rushed to WashingTrump delayed his plan to first special envoy, George House strategist. conversations and personal theory is that the inside-out ton without an invitation int move the U.S. Embassy to Mitchell, spent months in approach has failed.

And so, meetings with Arab and Trump had already decida gamble that he could see Jerusalem after Arab leaders regional leaders in recent 2009 trying to enlist Arab he argues, if Israci can Trump. He visited first with ed by that point to slow told him that doing so would weeks have also shaped partners in a joint effort.

Vice President Mike Pence, transform its relationship down the embassy move - a who had him over for breakThe difference is that in Kushner's thinking and that decision that did not espewith Sunni Arab nations, cause angry protests among Palestinians, who also claim fast at his official residence the last eight years, Israel they can ultimately lead the cially trouble Netanyahu of the president.

Trump has the city as the capital of a has grown closer to Sunni talked with President Abdeland his team, who, while way toward a resolution last week. The king apfuture state.

And after meetwith the Palestinians. publicly supporting a move, Arab nations because of pealed to the administraFattah el-Sissi of Egypt; King their shared concern about tion's fixation with the Isprivately urged caution to ing with King Abdullah Il of Salman of Saudi Arabia; Jared Kushner, the senior Iranian hegemony in the Sheikh Mohammed bin lamic State group, arguing avoid a violent backlash.

White House adviser whom Jordan last week, Trump

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"Trump might turn to Arab allies for help with Israeli-Palestinian relations," Sun-News, 11 February 2017. Covering Palestine archive, CP-2017-022. https://coveringpalestine.org/archive/cp-2017-022