President Trump promised Wednesday to make peace in the Middle East a top priority, vowing to do “whatever is necessary” to reach a historic deal between Israel and the Palestinians. In a joint press conference with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House, Trump said he was going to “start a process which will hopefully lead to peace.” “I will do whatever is necessary,” Trump said. “I will be a mediator, an arbitrator or a facilitator … and we will get this done.”

Trump, however, didn’t mention any specific parameters of such a deal, other than saying that it would involve two states. And when Abbas, during his own remarks, appeared to criticize Israel, the President did not react. “It’s about time for Israel to end its occupation of our people and of our land,” Abbas said. “We are the only remaining people in the world who still live under occupation,” he added, eliciting no verbal or facial response from Trump. Abbas also immediately mentioned several demands as part of a prospective agreement. READ MORE


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