President Donald Trump suggested Tuesday he may cease all U.S. foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority in frustration with declarations that negotiations cannot move forward after his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
It’s not only Pakistan that we pay billions of dollars to for nothing, but also many other countries, and others. As an example, we pay the Palestinians HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They don’t even want to negotiate a long overdue…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018
…peace treaty with Israel. We have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas expressed dismay with Trump’s Jerusalem decision and spurned a visit by Vice President Mike Pence in December. The Palestinian Authority has not moved forward with any peace talks since the move.
Trump previously expressed frustration with Pakistan Monday for refusing to cease support of terrorist organizations operating in Afghanistan. The president’s declaration could breathe new life or extinguish U.S.-led peace talks to broker a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Both Israel and Palestine claim Jerusalem as their capital. Trump’s second tweet indicated Jerusalem is now “off the table,” possibly indicating he will not support any deal which does not give Israel exclusive claim to the holy city.
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