BICOM

The US President is set to visit Israel later this month, with speculation growing that he will convene a peace summit between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

In the run up to the visit, Palestinian Authority President (PA) Mahmoud Abbas, who met President Donald Trump last week, has suggested he is prepared to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for talks mediated by the US President.

Abbas said: “I stressed before President Trump that under his auspices I am open to cooperating and to meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister in order to make peace.”

Following the breakdown of talks with former Secretary of State John Kerry, President Abbas demanded preconditions to peace negotiations of a full settlement freeze, freeing prisoners and acceptance of the 1967 Green Line as a basis for negotiations. Netanyahu has repeatedly said he is willing to meet Abbas at any time, without preconditions.

There was also further speculation in the Israeli media yesterday that the US Embassy will not yet move to Jerusalem. President Trump may yet make a statement recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and potentially promising to move the embassy in the future, once an agreement is reached.

Other details of the trip have been revealed. Trump will arrive at 11am on 22 May to a state welcoming ceremony at Ben-Gurion Airport. During the ceremony, speeches will be delivered by President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israeli President Rivlin.

The US President’s first stop in Israel will be the Old City of Jerusalem and the Western Wall, accompanied by his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner. After visiting the wall, President Trump and his entourage will head to the King David Hotel for lunch.  In the afternoon, there will be an official welcoming ceremony at the President’s residence. In the evening, Trump will have an official dinner at the residence of the Prime Minister.

The next day, the President will fly via helicopter to Masada to deliver a speech. He will then return to Jerusalem before travelling to Bethlehem, where he will meet President Abbas.