JERUSALEM: US President Donald Trump's adviser Jared Kushner on Sunday questioned the ability and willingness of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to make concessions for a peace agreement with Israel. Kushner's remarks, made in a rare interview with Palestinian newspaper Al Quds, came as he and special envoy Jason Greenblatt were in the region to advance efforts to renew the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process. "President Abbas says that he is committed to peace and I have no reason not to believe him," Kusnher said. "However, I do question how much President Abbas has the ability to, or is willing to, lean into finishing a deal". "He has his talking points which have not changed in the last 25 years. There has been no peace deal achieved in that time," Kushner said. "To make a deal both sides will have to take a leap and meet somewhere between their stated positions. I am not sure President Abbas has the ability to do that." Kushner and Greenblatt met on Friday with Israeli … [Read more...] about Trump adviser questions Abbas desire for peace with Israel
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Pompeo puts onus on Palestinians to rejoin peace talks
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wound up a three-day Middle East trip Monday without having met any Palestinian, but nevertheless urged their leadership to rejoin the peace process. Washington's newly appointed top diplomat received a warm reception in Riyadh, Tel Aviv and Amman, focusing his talks on Iranian interference in the region -- despite the tensions once against rising between Israel and the Palestinians. Forty-five Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire on the Gaza border since the start of protests that organisers have dubbed the Great March of Return on March 30, with more than 1,500 wounded. But Pompeo, who met Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his military headquarters on Sunday, refused to criticise the use of deadly force, saying: "We do believe the Israelis have a right to defend themselves and we're fully supportive of that." Pompeo was speaking in Amman, capital of Israel's neighbour Jordan on the last day of his first diplomatic mission since … [Read more...] about Pompeo puts onus on Palestinians to rejoin peace talks
News Violence subsides on Israel-Gaza border a day after deadly protest
GAZA--Dozens of Palestinian youths gathered by the Gaza-Israel border on Saturday, though the area remained mostly quiet, a day after deadly violence broke out in one of the biggest Palestinian demonstrations there in years. In the southern Gaza Strip, residents said Israeli troops fired warning shots towards a crowd of youths, some of whom burnt tyres. Health officials said two people were wounded and an Israeli military spokesman said he was checking the details. On Friday, at least 15 Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces confronting protesters, some of whom the military said had opened fire, rolled burning tires and hurled rocks and fire bombs toward troops across the border. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared Saturday a national day of mourning and a general strike was called across the occupied West Bank. Thousands in Gaza marched through the streets at funerals for those killed. Tens of thousands of Palestinians had gathered on Friday along the fenced … [Read more...] about News Violence subsides on Israel-Gaza border a day after deadly protest
US to open Jerusalem embassy in May, marking Israel’s 70th anniversary
WASHINGTON - The United States will relocate its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in May, coinciding with Israel's celebration of the 70th anniversary of its independence, US officials said Friday. The US announces a May date for the relocation of its embassy to Jerusalem, a disputed city holy to three major religions The decision sparked a furious reaction from Palestinians, who object to the US recognition of the disputed city as Israel's capital and call May 14 -- which in 2018 marks 70 years since Israel's declaration of independence -- Naqba, their "day of catastrophe."The choice of the date, a year earlier than originally forecast, is likely to further cloud efforts to restart peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, putting in greater doubt the traditional US role as an "honest broker.""We are planning to open the new US Embassy to Israel in Jerusalem in May. The Embassy opening will coincide with Israel's 70th anniversary," a State Department spokesperson said.In … [Read more...] about US to open Jerusalem embassy in May, marking Israel’s 70th anniversary
Mike Pence hopes for a ‘new era’ in Middle East peace talks, but Palestinians are looking for partners elsewhere
US Vice President Mike Pence told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he hopes to usher in a “new era” of Middle East peace talks. Pence also told the Israeli Knesset that the US was planning to move its embassy to Jerusalem by 2019. Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas traveled to Brussels to ask EU ministers to broker future peace deals. US Vice President Mike Pence told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he hopes to usher in a “new era” of Middle East peace talks, while the Palestinians have scorned US efforts and are turning to other global leaders for support. During his official visit to Israel on Monday, Pence told reporters it was a “great honor” to be meeting in “Israel’s capital, Jerusalem,” referencing President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Pence added that … [Read more...] about Mike Pence hopes for a ‘new era’ in Middle East peace talks, but Palestinians are looking for partners elsewhere