No to Bibi, Yes to Abbas: Trump’s Middle East Visit Shocks Israel
President Trump will meet with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas but not with Israeli officials, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE Israel, under fire on multiple fronts, is left out amid fears of US concessions to Iran and the Houthis
While Israel was surprised by President Trump's decision to skip the Jewish state during his Middle East visit this week, it has now emerged that the US president plans to meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in the coming days The meeting with Abbas is reportedly set to take place in Saudi Arabia
This news comes amid cooling relations between Jerusalem and Washington
The visit, set to begin tomorrow, will include Arab nations such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates while Israel, currently engaged in a war on multiple fronts, will be bypassed
However a troubling report published today on Egyptian television channel Al-Ghad reveals that President Trump plans to meet with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority Chairman, during his visit to the region
Trump is also expected to meet with Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who had previously been sought by the US for his involvement in terrorist activities
Additionally, reports indicate that the upcoming US-Arab summit is likely to be held under the auspices of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has so far refused normalization with Israel without a clear vision for a future Palestinian state
Lebanese President-elect Michel Aoun is also on the guest list and discussions with Arab countries are expected to focus heavily on relations with Israel
