President Trump told Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas privately at the White House on Wednesday that a condition for Middle East peace must include the Palestinians halting their “pay for slay” policy of rewarding terrorists who attack Israelis.
In his first meeting with Mr. Abbas, Mr. Trump announced he is starting “a process” with Israel and the Palestinians to work toward a historically elusive peace agreement. The most recent talks fell apart in 2014 during the Obama administration.
“We’ll start a process which hopefully will lead to peace,” Mr. Trump said with Mr. Abbas at his side. “I would love to be a mediator, an arbitrator or a facilitator, and we will get this done.”
While Mr. Trump didn’t mention publicly the issue of Palestinians paying terrorists or their families for killing Israelis, White House aides said the president did confront Mr. Abbas about it behind closed doors.
“The president raised concerns about the payments to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have committed acts of terrorism, and to their families, and emphasized the need to resolve this issue,” said White House press secretary Sean Spicer.
President Trump Has a Working Luncheon with President Abbas
Following their meeting at the White House, President Donald Trump and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas give remarks on working toward Mideast peace
Thursday, May 04, 2017
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