Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Palestinian President in Washington, Trump reaffirms commitment to brokering peace deal


US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his commitment to brokering a historic peace deal between Israel and Palestine.

He was speaking alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a joint statement during his visit to the White House.

Our Washington correspondent Giles Gibson has more:

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Script:

This was President Abbas' first visit to the White House since Donald Trump took office...

And the two leaders were keen to highlight their long-term objective in the Middle East:

Trump byte

"We want to create peace between Israel and the Palestinians. We will get it done. We will be working so hard to get it done, it's been a long time."

And President Trump was also confident about his ability to broker a historic deal:
Trump byte

"Over the course of my lifetime I've always heard that perhaps the toughest deal to make is the deal between the Israelis and Palestinians. Let's see if we can prove them wrong."

Meanwhile the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was firm on his commitment to a two-state solution...

That's despite Donald Trump saying he could live with a one state or two state solution during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit in February.

But President Abbas also highlighted his faith in the US leader's dealmaking skills:

Abbas byte

"Now, Mr President, with you we have hope."

UPSOT Camera shutters

Donald Trump has now hosted both the Israeli Prime Minister and the Palestinian President in Washington.

But as his predecessor Barack Obama discovered...getting the two leaders to sit down in the same room will be just the first step on the long road to a deal.

Sign off