Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas told U.S. Special Prepresentative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt, that he believes with President Donald Trump in office it’s possible to reach an “historic” peace deal with Israel.
Readout of Palestinian Authority Pres. Mahmoud Abbas' Meeting with US Special Representative for International Negotiations @jdgreenblatt45: pic.twitter.com/EBWak927R9
— USCGJerusalem (@USCGJerusalem) March 14, 2017
Greenblatt met with Abbas at the Muqata, in the Palestinian Authority capital of Ramallah, in Samaria.
Palestine Liberation Organization official and former chief negotiator Saeb Erekat, Palestinian Authority spokesperson Nabil Rudaineh and the Majid Faraj, head of the Palestinian Authority intelligence service, also attended the meeting.
Abbas committed to preventing inflammatory rhetoric and incitement, according to a readout of the meeting from the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem. He emphasized that the Palestinian Authority sees the two-state solution as its “strategic source.” He also said he’s looking forward to discussing the possibilities for peace directly with President Trump during his upcoming visit to Washington DC.
The two men also talked about building up the Palestinian Authority security forces and improving its economy.
In a tweet late in the day, Greenblatt called the meeting a ‘positive, far-ranging exchange about the current situation.’
Prior to the meeting in Ramallah, Greenblatt met with a group of Arab hi-tech entrepreneurs.