![Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) hold a joint press conference following their meeting on 23 May, 2017 in Bethlehem, West Bank [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017_05_23-Palestinian-president-Mahmoud-Abbas-and-US-President-Donald-Trump-hold-a-joint-press-conference-following-their-meeting-in-Bethlehem-West-Bank20170523_2_23831991_22417611-.jpg?fit=1170%2C800&ssl=1)
![Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) hold a joint press conference following their meeting on 23 May, 2017 in Bethlehem, West Bank [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017_05_23-Palestinian-president-Mahmoud-Abbas-and-US-President-Donald-Trump-hold-a-joint-press-conference-following-their-meeting-in-Bethlehem-West-Bank20170523_2_23831991_22417610-.jpg?w=808&h=529&ssl=1 "U.S. President Trump in West Bank")
US President Donald Trump: “This is nothing more or less than a recognition of reality.”
![Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) hold a joint press conference following their meeting on 23 May, 2017 in Bethlehem, West Bank [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017_05_23-Palestinian-president-Mahmoud-Abbas-and-US-President-Donald-Trump-hold-a-joint-press-conference-following-their-meeting-in-Bethlehem-West-Bank20170523_2_23831991_22417609-.jpg?w=384&h=256&ssl=1 "U.S. President Trump in West Bank")
US President Donald Trump (L) hold a press conference on 23 May, 2017 [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency]
![Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) hold a joint press conference following their meeting on 23 May, 2017 in Bethlehem, West Bank [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017_05_23-Palestinian-president-Mahmoud-Abbas-and-US-President-Donald-Trump-hold-a-joint-press-conference-following-their-meeting-in-Bethlehem-West-Bank20170523_2_23831991_22417608-.jpg?w=384&h=269&ssl=1 "U.S. President Trump in West Bank")
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) hold a joint press conference following their meeting on 23 May, 2017 in Bethlehem, West Bank [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency]
![Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) hold a joint press conference following their meeting on 23 May, 2017 in Bethlehem, West Bank [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017_05_23-Palestinian-president-Mahmoud-Abbas-and-US-President-Donald-Trump-hold-a-joint-press-conference-following-their-meeting-in-Bethlehem-West-Bank20170523_2_23831991_22417606-.jpg?w=327&h=242&ssl=1 "U.S. President Trump in West Bank")
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) hold a joint press conference following their meeting on 23 May, 2017 in Bethlehem, West Bank [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency]
![Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) hold a joint press conference following their meeting on 23 May, 2017 in Bethlehem, West Bank [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017_05_23-Palestinian-president-Mahmoud-Abbas-and-US-President-Donald-Trump-hold-a-joint-press-conference-following-their-meeting-in-Bethlehem-West-Bank20170523_2_23831991_22417603-.jpg?w=159&h=242&ssl=1 "U.S. President Trump in West Bank")
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) hold a joint press conference following their meeting on 23 May, 2017 in Bethlehem, West Bank [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency]
![Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) hold a joint press conference following their meeting on 23 May, 2017 in Bethlehem, West Bank [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017_05_23-Palestinian-president-Mahmoud-Abbas-and-US-President-Donald-Trump-hold-a-joint-press-conference-following-their-meeting-in-Bethlehem-West-Bank20170523_2_23831991_22417602-.jpg?w=344&h=242&ssl=1 "U.S. President Trump in West Bank")
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) hold a joint press conference following their meeting on 23 May, 2017 in Bethlehem, West Bank [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency]
![Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) hold a joint press conference following their meeting on 23 May, 2017 in Bethlehem, West Bank [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017_05_23-Palestinian-president-Mahmoud-Abbas-and-US-President-Donald-Trump-hold-a-joint-press-conference-following-their-meeting-in-Bethlehem-West-Bank20170523_2_23831991_22417611-.jpg?w=354&h=242&ssl=1 "U.S. President Trump in West Bank")
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (R) and US President Donald Trump (L) hold a joint press conference following their meeting on 23 May, 2017 in Bethlehem, West Bank [Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency]