By Israel Hayom—-
US President Donald Trump’s economic vision as part of the wider plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was met with contempt, repudiation and exasperation by Palestinians and many in the Arab world, even as some in the Gulf called for it to be given a chance.
The $50 billion “peace to prosperity” plan, set to be presented by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner at a conference in Bahrain on Tuesday and Wednesday, envisions a global investment fund to lift the Palestinian and neighboring Arab states’ economies.
But the lack of a political solution, which Washington has said would be unveiled later, prompted rejection not only from Palestinians but also in Arab countries which Israel would seek normal relations with.
“The plan cannot pass because it ends the Palestinian cause,” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday. “We are not going to attend this workshop, the reason is that the economic situation should not be discussed before a political situation, so long as there is no political situation, we do not deal with any economic situation.”
Senior Palestine Liberation Organization official Hanan Ashrawi said on Saturday that Kushner’s plans were “all abstract promises” and said only a political solution would solve the conflict.
Speaking to Reuters, she said: “If they really care about the Palestinian economy they should start by lifting the siege of Gaza, stopping Israel stealing our money and our resources and our land and opening up our territorial waters, our airspace, and our borders so we can freely export and import.”
She said the Trump administration’s stance was an “entirely wrong approach,” adding: “They can end the occupation, which is the most basic requirement for prosperity. There can be no prosperity under occupation.” Continue Reading….
