Aid on hold as Palestinians ‘disrespected’ US, says Trump

President Donald Trump on Thursday accused the Palestinians of disrespecting the United States and threatened to withhold aid worth hundreds of millions of dollars until they accede to US-brokered talks, reports AFp from Davos, Switzerland. In a significant sharpening of his rhetoric against the leadership in Ramallah, Trump said the Palestinians had “disrespected us a week ago by not allowing our great vice president to see them.” “We give them hundreds of millions,” Trump said during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Davos, Switzerland.

“That money is not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace.” Meanwhile, US Ambassador Nikki Haley took direct aim at Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas on Thursday, telling the United Nations Security Council that he lacked the courage needed

for a peace deal. Haley spoke soon after President Donald Trump insisted that Palestinians had “disrespected” the United States and issued a new threat to cut aid during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Davos, Switzerland.

The United States remains “deeply committed” to an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, Haley said, “but we will not chase after a Palestinian leadership that lacks what is needed to achieve peace.”

“To get historic results, we need courageous leaders,” she said.

The US ambassador, who has strongly defended Israel at the United Nations, said Abbas had “insulted” Trump and called for suspending recognition of Israel after the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

She was referring to a speech Abbas gave on January 14 to the Palestinian leadership in which Abbas reportedly mocked Trump and thundered “Damn your Money!” in response to US threats to cut off funding.

Abbas also cancelled a planned meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence to protest the US decision on Jerusalem, which the Palestinians view as the capital of their future state.

Addressing the council, Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said the search for peace had been Abbas’ “life’s work” and suggested attacks on the Palestinian leader were a form of “demonization.”

Mansour said the Palestinian rejection of the US decision on Jerusalem “is not intended as ‘disrespect’” but rather a “position rooted in full respect for the law, for the principles of justice and equity.”

The Security Council was meeting to discuss Israeli-Palestinian tensions for the first time since the General Assembly voted 128 to 9, with 35 abstentions, to reject the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. The Trump administration is pressing sceptical Palestinians to enter a US-sponsored peace process that has so far appeared to offer much to their arch-foes Israel.

Palestinians were especially enraged by Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital—which broke with decades of international consensus that the city would be the subject of negotiation. Amid deadly unrest and fierce political pressure at home, Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas responded by cancelling a planned meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence, who visited Egypt, Israel and Jordan.

The Palestinians rejected Trump’s threat on Thursday, with one senior official labelling him an “oppressor”. A spokesman for president Mahmud Abbas said they would not meet with the US administration until it withdrew its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“If the American administration will not go back on their decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, it will remain outside the (negotiation) table,” Nabil Abu Rudeina said. Another senior Palestinian official, Hanan Ashrawi, told AFP “not meeting your oppressor is not a sign of disrespect; it is a sign of self-respect.”

Trump insisted that he could still be an honest broker. “We have a proposal for peace. It is a great proposal for the Palestinians,” Trump said, adding that Israel would also be forced to make concessions.

But the US president also doubled down, saying he would move the American embassy to Jerusalem as soon as next year, despite no suitably sized building existing.

“We anticipate having a small version of it open sometime next year,” Trump said.

Netanyahu warmly welcomed Trump’s “historic decision”, saying it “recognises history, recognises a certain reality, built on the basis of truth.”

Netanyahu, bolstered by Trump’s unstinting support, later said he was willing to enter talks, but accused the Palestinians of avoiding negotiations.

Abbas has sought an internationally led process, accusing the Trump administration of blatant bias. “Here, I think President Trump offers a refreshing point of view,” Netanyahu said. “He said ‘we’re not going to let you just walk away... We want to see you enter the room and negotiate peace’.”

Netanyahu added that “I think there’s no substitute for the United States as the honest broker, as the facilitator.

 

Aid on hold as Palestinians disrespected US, says Trump

President Donald Trump on Thursday accused the Palestinians of disrespecting the United States and threatened to withhold aid worth hundreds of millions of dollars until they accede to US-brokered talks, reports AFp from Davos, Switzerland. In a significant sharpening of his rhetoric against the leadership in Ramallah, Trump said the Palestinians had disrespected us a week ago by not allowing our great vice president to see them. We give them hundreds of millions, Trump said during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Davos, Switzerland. That money is not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace. Meanwhile, US Ambassador Nikki Haley took direct aim at Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas on Thursday, telling the United Nations Security Council that he lacked the courage needed for a peace deal. Haley spoke soon after President Donald Trump insisted that Palestinians had disrespected the United States and issued a new threat to cut aid during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Davos, Switzerland. The United States remains deeply committed to an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, Haley said, but we will not chase after a Palestinian leadership that lacks what is needed to achieve peace. To get historic results, we need courageous leaders, she said. The US ambassador, who has strongly defended Israel at the United Nations, said Abbas had insulted Trump and called for suspending recognition of Israel after the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital. She was referring to a speech Abbas gave on January 14 to the Palestinian leadership in which Abbas reportedly mocked Trump and thundered Damn your Money! in response to US threats to cut off funding. Abbas also cancelled a planned meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence to protest the US decision on Jerusalem, which the Palestinians view as the capital of their future state. Addressing the council, Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said the search for peace had been Abbas lifes work and suggested attacks on the Palestinian leader were a form of demonization. Mansour said the Palestinian rejection of the US decision on Jerusalem is not intended as disrespect but rather a position rooted in full respect for the law, for the principles of justice and equity. The Security Council was meeting to discuss Israeli-Palestinian tensions for the first time since the General Assembly voted 128 to 9, with 35 abstentions, to reject the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. The Trump administration is pressing sceptical Palestinians to enter a US-sponsored peace process that has so far appeared to offer much to their arch-foes Israel. Palestinians were especially enraged by Trumps decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capitalwhich broke with decades of international consensus that the city would be the subject of negotiation. Amid deadly unrest and fierce political pressure at home, Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas responded by cancelling a planned meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence, who visited Egypt, Israel and Jordan. The Palestinians rejected Trumps threat on Thursday, with one senior official labelling him an oppressor. A spokesman for president Mahmud Abbas said they would not meet with the US administration until it withdrew its recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital. If the American administration will not go back on their decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, it will remain outside the (negotiation) table, Nabil Abu Rudeina said. Another senior Palestinian official, Hanan Ashrawi, told AFP not meeting your oppressor is not a sign of disrespect; it is a sign of self-respect. Trump insisted that he could still be an honest broker. We have a proposal for peace. It is a great proposal for the Palestinians, Trump said, adding that Israel would also be forced to make concessions. But the US president also doubled down, saying he would move the American embassy to Jerusalem as soon as next year, despite no suitably sized building existing. We anticipate having a small version of it open sometime next year, Trump said. Netanyahu warmly welcomed Trumps historic decision, saying it recognises history, recognises a certain reality, built on the basis of truth. Netanyahu, bolstered by Trumps unstinting support, later said he was willing to enter talks, but accused the Palestinians of avoiding negotiations. Abbas has sought an internationally led process, accusing the Trump administration of blatant bias. Here, I think President Trump offers a refreshing point of view, Netanyahu said. He said were not going to let you just walk away... We want to see you enter the room and negotiate peace. Netanyahu added that I think theres no substitute for the United States as the honest broker, as the facilitator.