Peace talks between Israel and Palestine will be resumed in July in Washington, in the wake of an agreement reached on resumption during a meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. counterpart Donald Trump in Bethlehem, Palestinian officials have confirmed.
According to the sources, the US did not notify about the terms of the initiative, despite holding talks with Israeli officials over the resumption of talks, in the wake of a visit by Jared Kushner, senior advisor to Trump, and Jason Greenblat, the U.S. envoy to the Middle East, to Palestine and Israel.
Speaking to Al-Masry Al-Youm, Wasel Abu Youssef, Executive Committee member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said Trump will try to start the peace talks next month.
The PLO will announce three issues ahead of accepting any peace initiatives, he said. No political process will be accepted without reference to the United Nations and its Security Council decisions; an agreed timeline to end the conflict; and as long as the crimes and violations by Israel are still committed.
Meanwhile, Nabil Abu Amr, member of the Palestinian National Council, said the U.S. officials did not hint at any proposals over the initiative during their visit to Palestine.
“Israel agreed with the U.S. that Palestinians recognize the Jewish state ahead of declaring the two-state solution, and nationalization with the Arabs ahead of achieving the Arab initiative — which we totally reject — before taking a positive step toward the Palestinian people,” Abu Amr told Al-Masry Al-Youm.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
