Trump wraps Middle East visit with hope for peace intact

SBS World News Radio: Donald Trump has wrapped up his two-day visit of Israel and the West Bank, expressing continued hopes of a peace deal for the Middle East.

Trump wraps Middle East visit with hope for peace intact

Trump wraps Middle East visit with hope for peace intact

Donald Trump began his final day in the Middle East in a morning meeting with Palestinian authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

It was their second round of such talks, after Mr Abbas visited the White House earlier this month.

Focus was again on an elusive peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.

President Trump reiterated that he believes peace is possible, saying he is personally committed to end the conflict.

"President Abbas assures me he is ready to work towards that goal in good faith and Prime Minister Netanyahu has promised the same. I look forward to working with these leaders towards a lasting peace. I also look forward to working with President Abbas on other important matters such as unlocking the potential of the Palestinian economy, which is having a very rough time."

Mr Abbas confirmed his commitment to what he calls an 'historic' peace agreement, but believes barriers remain.

He says what the Palestinians call "Israeli occupation" is the biggest obstacle.

Through an interpreter, Mr Abbas added that is what his people oppose, not Judaism.

"Our main problem is with occupation, settlement policies, and Israel is not recognising the Palestinian state, as this will be a real problem to the two-state solution. We have no problems, whatsoever, between us and the Jewish religion. We respect the Jewish religion. But we have a problem with occupation."

And, in a second joint press conference with Donald Trump in two days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is confident the US leader can make headway.

"I believe that this is the first and the crucial step towards the road to a genuine peace that Israel seeks, and that I believe that together with you, we can achieve. President Trump, working with you, I believe we can advance a durable peace between Israel and its Arab neighbours, as well as the Palestinians, because of the common danger that the Arab world and Israel face from Iran, and because of the leadership that you bring to this process."

But the rhetoric between Israel and the Palestinians remains bitter, highlighted in the aftermath of the Manchester bombing.

During a press conference with Mahmoud Abbas, President Trump condemned the Manchester attack.

"I won't call them monsters, because they would like that term. They would think that's a great name. I will call them, from now on, losers because that's what they are, they are losers and we'll have more of them but they are losers, just remember that."

Despite Mahmoud Abbas having also condemned the attack, Mr Netanyahu later took aim at the Palestinian authority.

"President Abbas condemned the horrific attack in Manchester. Well, I hope this heralds a real change, because if the attacker had been Palestinian and the victims had been Israeli children, the suicide bomber's family would have received a stipend from the Palestinian Authority. That's Palestinian law. That law must be changed."

The US President simply pressed that peace is possible, as long as there is compromise.

"Making peace, however, will not be easy. We all know that. Both sides will face tough decisions. But with determination, compromise, and the belief that peace is possible, Israelis and Palestinians can make a deal."

But prominent Palestinian politician Hanan Ashrawi says she remains sceptical.

"I heard a lot of generalisations and a lot of atmospherics about peace being possible, and I have heard lots of statements of intent, but I have heard very little substance so far. How is it possible when it hasn't been achieved so far? How is it possible when the US had weighed in in favour of Israel constantly?"

Donald Trump also laid a wreath at Israel's holocaust museum, and attended a prayer ceremony inside Yad Vashem's Hall of Remembrance.

President Trump stayed in Israel and the West Bank for a total of 27 hours.

Mr Trump has since landed in Rome, the next stop on his first foreign trip in office.

 






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Published 24 May 2017 11:00am

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