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Trump 'arm-twists' Palestine over Jerusalem issue; Threatens to cut off aid

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 03 Jan 2018

Trump 'arm-twists' Palestine over Jerusalem issue; Threatens to cut off aid

Washington, Jan 3 (JEN): A day after threatening Pakistan with aid withdrawal, US President Donald Trump has rued the lack of respect and support from the beneficiaries, especially Palestine.

In a two part tweet, he said that US will consider a aid cut for the Middle Eastern regime too, if it fails to hold peace talks with Israel.

"It's not only Pakistan that we pay billions of dollars to for nothing, but also many other countries, and others. As an example, we pay the Palestinians HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They don’t even want to negotiate a long overdue..." the US President tweeted.

He added, "...peace treaty with Israel. We have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?"

Trump's statements are viewed as contradictory in nature by many.

Last month, while announcing his Jerusalem decision, he had said: "We are not taking a position on any of the final status issues including the final boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem."

The US President had added: "Those questions are up to the parties involved. The United States remains deeply committed to helping facilitate a peace agreement that is acceptable to both sides."

What it meant was, Trump had promised to not take sides and pressurise Palestine into forsaking its claim to Jerusalem, the holy city, which is contrary to what he is doing presently.

 

Image: Donald Trump/Twitter