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Trump to Support Palestinians’ Right for ‘Self-Determination’ | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) meets with Jason Greenblatt (R) as part of the 28th Arab League Summit in Amman, Jordan on March 28, 2017. Photo by Palestinian Presidency / Thaer Ghanaim


Tel Aviv, Washington – US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster uncovered on Friday that during President Donald Trump’s foreign trip to the Middle East, to begin in Saudi Arabia, the president would express his desire for self-administration for the Palestinians.

At the daily White House briefing, McMaster said: “During the trip, Trump will encourage our Arab and Muslim partners to take bold, new steps to promote peace and to confront those from ISIS, al-Qaeda and Iran, to the Assad regime of Syria.”

He added that Trump also seeks to unite peoples of all faiths around a common vision of peace, progress and prosperity.

Although Trump will reaffirm during his meeting with President Rivlin and Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, America’s unshakeable bond with the Jewish state, the president will also express during his meetings with President Mahmoud Abbas, “his desire for dignity and self-determination for the Palestinians,” McMaster said.

Asked about reports that President Trump may try to get Netanyahu and Abbas in the same room together while he’s there, McMaster said: “It will be whatever the President wants to do.”

The national advisor described the trip as historic and said: “No President has ever visited the homelands and holy sites of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslims faiths all on one trip.”

Meanwhile, Trump’s special Middle East envoy, Jason Greenblatt is expected in Israel during the next few days to prepare for the president’s visit.

Israeli informed sources uncovered on Friday that Trump was sending his envoy with a mission to convince Netanyahu to participate in a meeting including Abbas and Trump, probably to be held during the president’s upcoming visit to the Middle East.

Trump’s administration also sent a message to Tel Aviv saying the president was “very serious” in his efforts to ink a peace deal and therefore, the Israelis “should not deceive him.”