Trump: Palestine must return to talks to get aid

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Trump: Palestine must return to talks to get aid BY CATHERINE LUCEY Associated Press odds with a gathering that Jerusalem.

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM celebrates global coopera- which Ne- tion and free trade. tanyahu hailed on Thursday DAVOS, Switzerland President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to withhold aid money from the Palestinians until they retur to peace talks with Israel as he sat down with Israeli Prime Minister Ben- jamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of an economic summit in Switzerland.

Trump's decision last year to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital roiled Arab nations and led the Palestinians to refuse to meet with Vice President Mike Pence during his visit. to the Mideast this week They also declared a new U.S-led peace push dead, saying Washington can no longer be trusted as an hon- to them unless they sit lutions to the conflict and came shortly after he ar est broker. down and negotiate peace." chided the president for act rived at the World Eco- Trump said that decision The Palestinian envoy to ing "triumphant" and "victo- nomic Forum, which brings together world leaders, has consequences The Washington, Husam Zom- rious" in Davos. business executives and United States, he said, gives lot accused the president "We don't understand, of-backstabbing the Pales- "hundreds of millions of trunphant and victorious, tinians.

In a speech at the celebrities. His appearance what is it? For killing the is aimed at luring foreign in- dollus in aid and support" Washington-based Middle vestment to the United to the Palestinians, and only possible solution? For East Institute, Zomlot said pushing us to the Armaged States and highlighting his that money is on the table Trump had reneged on his don?

Zomlot said. and that money's not going "America first" economic promise not to prejudge so- Trump's comments agenda, despite its seen Washington has contrib- as an "histone decision that uted more than $5 billion in will be forever etched in the hearts of our people? economic and security ak!

During his visit to Israel to the Palestinians since the this week, Pence told Israeli mid-1990s.

Annual eco- lawmakers that the United nore aid since 2008 has av- eraged about $400 million, States was fast-tracking the much of it devoted to devel embassy plans, aiming to opment projects, State move it from Tel Aviv to Department spokeswoman Jerusalem by the end of Heather Nauert said all bilat- 2019, Trump said he antici- eral assistance to the Pales pates having "a small ver- tinians, including econonic sion" of the embassy open security aide, is at risk if the sometime next year.

Palestinians do not come to In his remarks, Trump the negotiating table. referenced Pence's trip to Last week, the Trump ad- the Middle East, which did not include a meeting with AP PHOTO President Donald Trump shakes hands with Israell Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday during a meeting at the World Economic Forum. ministration moved to with Palestinian leaders.

Trump hoki some but not all said, "they disrespected us of a scheduled aid payment. to the United Nations a week ago by not allowing our great vice president. to agency that assists Pales see them," adding: "Re- tinian refugees.

The Trump spect has to be shown to administration said it would the U.S. or we're just not provide $60 million, while going any further." keeping $65 million until Trump arrived in Zurich the U.N. body undertakes a ahead of schedule and "fundamental re examina- immediately boarded a tion." Nauert said that ac- U.S. tion is unrelated. helicopter for the Israel has been overjoyed flight to Davos, where the World Economic Forum is by Trump's pivot on being heid.

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"Trump: Palestine must return to talks to get aid," Rocky Mount Telegram, 26 January 2018. Covering Palestine archive, CP-2018-015. https://coveringpalestine.org/archive/cp-2018-015