US to outline ‘basic principles’ for peace in Middle East

The US is considering drafting a ‘statement of principles’ to resolve the core issues that will pave the way for future talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Haaretz reported.

The paper quoted US officials as saying that a decision had yet to be made on the outline of the issues that will contribute to pushing the peace process between Israelis and the Palestinians.

According to the paper, during his recent visit to the region, US envoy, Jason Greenblatt, discussed Washington’s efforts to resume negotiations.

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Last Thursday, Greenblatt visited Jerusalem and Ramallah, where he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

According to Haaretz, Netanyahu told members of his ruling party that the Trump administration fervently wishes to put something on the table.

An Israeli official told Haaretz that Netanyahu and his advisors are preparing for two possibilities; to put forward a formula for discussions with the parties to the conflict as a preliminary stage to begin negotiations or to impose the document as the basis for the final status negotiations.