DAVOS, Switzerland: US President Donald Trump threatened to withhold aid money from the Palestinians until they return to peace talks with Israel as he sat down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Trump’s decision last year to recognise occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital roiled Arab nations and led Palestinians to withdraw from negotiations on the grounds the US can no longer be trusted as an honest broker in the quest for peace.
Trump said that decision has consequences. The US, he said, gives “hundreds of millions of dollars” to the Palestinians, and “that money is on the table and that money’s not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace”.
It wasn’t immediately clear what money Trump was referring to in his threat. Washington has contributed over $5 billion (Dh18.35 billion) in economic and security aid to the Palestinians since the mid-1990s. Annual economic aid since 2008 has averaged around $400 million, much of it devoted to development projects.
Last week, the Trump administration moved to withhold some — but not all — of a scheduled aid payment to the United Nations agency that assists Palestinian refugees. The Trump administration said it would provide $60 million, while keeping $65 million until the UN body undertakes a “fundamental re-examination.”
The Israeli regime has been overjoyed by Trump’s pivot on occupied Jerusalem, which Netanyahu hailed on Thursday as an “historic decision that will be forever etched in the hearts of our people.”
On a visit to Israel this week, Vice-President Mike Pence told regime lawmakers that the US was fast-tracking the embassy plans, aiming to move it from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem by the end of 2019. Trump said he anticipates having “a small version” of the embassy open sometime next year.
During his remarks, Trump referenced Pence’s trip to the Middle East, which did not include a meeting with Palestinian leaders. Trump said, “they disrespected us a week ago by not allowing our great vice-president to see them,” adding: “Respect has to be shown to the US or we’re just not going any further.”
Trump arrived in Zurich ahead of schedule and immediately boarded a US helicopter for the flight to Davos, where the World Economic Forum is being held. While the president is expected to declare that the United States is open for business, the protectionist-leaning president’s attendance at the annual gathering for free-trade-loving political and business elites has raised eyebrows. His decision to sign new tariffs boosting American manufacturers this week has prompted fresh concerns about his nationalist tendencies.