Palestinian Leadership Ready to Make a Deal?

Robin Rowan 4/20/2017

With a little help from Japanese media, the stage is being set.

Jerusalem Online reports that Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, has told Japanese Journalists that he is ready to meet with Israel PM Netanyahu in Washington DC at any time, “under the auspices of President Trump,” and begin negotiations on a two state solution with great concessions. Abbas admitted there “is no alternative to a two state solution.”

According to reporting of the interview with Japanese media, (the original interview could not be found at time of this summary;) the Palestinian Authority Chairman said “a political settlement would be based upon painful Palestinian concessions,” but also mentioned the 1949 Armistice Lines. The 1949 demarcation lines give East Jerusalem and the Temple Mount to the Palestinians, which Israel will not allow to happen. The lines ignores the 1967 Six Day War and territory recovered by Israel.

By “great concessions” we can only hope that means, at the least, recognizing Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.

Abbas is scheduled to meet with President Trump in Washington DC on May 3rd, 2017.

It is very interesting that these comments were made to a Japanese journalist, far from Middle East reporting.

The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, was the first foreign leader honored with a meeting after President Trump’s election in November. Then in February PM Abe returned not only for a visit to the White House, but also enjoyed a weekend of golfing at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Is Trump getting a little help from the Japanese media to set the stage for talks with the Palestinians?

With the widely read Jerusalem Online, and Israel’s Main Newscast reporting that Abbas is ready to make concessions, the pressure is on.

Robin Rowan

Robin Rowan is a recipient of the 'Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism." After many years in government oversight for U.S. Inspectors Generals, Ms. Rowan conducts extensive research and mandates truth over politics. She is a political activist for the US- Israel relationship, serving as lay lobbing leader and six years on the National Council of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). (Views expressed do not reflect views of AIPAC.) An ordained minister, she speaks to Churches of all denominations on Israel and the importance of the Christian advocacy and engagement in politics. Webinars and a weekly podcast are in development. Sponsorship of this work is encouraged.
Robin can be contacted at Church4Israel @ gmail.com.