Top PA official says Trump committed to Palestinian state

A senior Palestinian official says he is encouraged by early signs that the Trump administration remains strongly committed to reaching peace in the region.

Jibril Rajoub says that Trump made clear to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in a recent phone call that he was his “strategic partner” in making a “real and serious” peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Trump campaigned on promises to depart from decades of American policy and signaled a much closer relationship with Israel than former President Barack Obama. He made no mention of Palestinian statehood and hinted toward much greater tolerance for Israeli West Bank settlement construction.

But since taking office, Trump appears to have backpedaled. Rajoub says Trump’s “America First” slogan also meant he would be less prone to supporting Israel by default.

— AP