President Donald Trump says the ‘Palestinians’ must return to peace talks with Israel or risk losing all U.S. aid money.
Both Trump and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley made such threats in the past, but with slightly different messaging.
Trump’s decision last year to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital roiled Arab nations and led Palestinians to refuse to negotiate with the U.S. on grounds that America can no longer be an honest broker in the quest for peace. Palestinians claim east Jerusalem for their future capital.
Trump says U.S. aid to the Palestinians and the PA Authority is “on the table” but they won’t get it “unless they sit down and negotiate peace” with Israel.
Trump comments came as he opened a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an economic summit in Davos, Switzerland.
“Hopefully we can do something with peace. I would love to see it. You know, if you look back at the various peace proposals, and they are endless, and I spoke to some of the people involved, and I said, ‘Did you ever talk about the vast amounts of funds, money that we give to the Palestinians. We give, you know, hundreds of millions of dollars, and they said, ‘we never talk about it.’ Well, we do talk about it.” Trump said.
“They disrespected us a week ago by not allowing our great vice president to see them, and we give them hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and support, tremendous numbers, numbers that nobody understands, that money is on the table and that money is not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace.” Trump continued.
“Because I can tell you that Israel does want to make peace, and they’re going to have to want to make peace too, or we’re going to have nothing to do with it any longer.” Trump concluded.
Netanyahu praised Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and to move the U.S. Embassy there from Tel Aviv.
