Trump greets Abbas with pledge to create an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal

In a joint statement at the White House Wednesday, after his talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, President Donald Trump said he was ready to act as “moderator, arbiter or facilitator” for a resumed Israeli-Palestinian peace process – “and I’ll get it done!” Peace can’t be imposed, he said. “We want to create it and will work hard to get it done.”

Abbas replied: “Our strategic choice is for peace in the region with Israel, based on an independent Palestine within 1967 lines and East Jerusalem as its capital." He stressed, “It is time for Israel to end its occupation of our people and land.” He also condemned ISIS as “criminals who had nothing to do with our noble religion.