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White House: Mid East peace efforts may have ‘temporary cooling off period’

December 15, 2017 at 9:53 am

Israeli security forces arrest Palestinians during a protest against US President Donald Trump’s announcement to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on 14 December 2017 [Mahmoud İbrahim/Anadolu Agency]

Trump administration officials have acknowledged that efforts to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process may experience a “temporary cooling off period” following reactions to the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

According to a report by Haaretz, the comments by White House officials came in response to claims by European diplomats that “the Trump peace initiative is stuck”.

“We have said what we have said all along – the President remains as committed to peace as ever and we are not surprised by reactions which have the potential to result in a temporary cooling off period,” a senior White House official told Haaretz.

“In the meantime, we will remain hard at work putting together our plan, which will benefit the Israeli and Palestinian peoples,” the official added.

Haaretz noted that “some sources in the administration have added that once talks are renewed, the president’s statement on Jerusalem will in fact increase the chances for significant diplomatic progress.”

Read: Over 300 Palestinians arrested since start of Jerusalem protests