Bad news.
The Islamic terrorist group we fund won't let us mediate the non-existent peace process that they've rejected and walked away from every time and under every previous president. I don't know what we'll do now. But it'll probably involve giving them more money (thanks to everyone who neutered the Taylor Force Act) and trying to negotiate an impossible peace with them anyway.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told an international summit Wednesday that the United States was unfit to mediate the Mideast conflict, marking a major policy shift after decades spent courting American goodwill.
But there is a role for the US in giving Abbas hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
Sometimes the PLO reminds me of a murderous brat. "I'm not gonna talk to you dad, but you still have to pay for everything." I have a modest proposal. It involves not funding terrorists. Especially snotty terrorists.
Abbas said Trump’s decision was a “crime,” which came at a time when the Palestinians were engaged with Washington in a new push to reach a long-elusive peace agreement with Israel, the “deal of our times.”
“Instead we got the slap of our times,” Abbas said. “The United States has chosen to lose its qualification as a mediator ... We will no longer accept that it has a role in the political process.” He suggested the U.N. should take over as mediator.
That sounds like a plan. The UN and the PLO should mediate negotiations over which of them hates Jews more.
The summit of the 57-member Organization of Muslim Cooperation concluded with the so-called Istanbul Declaration, outlining the bloc’s response to Trump’s declaration. It called the decision “null and void” and urged Trump to reconsider the move,
If it's null and void... why bother reconsidering it?
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who hosted the summit, said it is “out of the question” for Washington to continue mediating between Israel and the Palestinians. “That process is now over,” he said
But Erdogan can begin negotiations between the PLO and Hamas. Their own terrorist peace process doesn't seem to be going well. Maybe when Erdogan can bring a lasting peace between Hamas and the PLO, then we can talk.
Erdogan said OIC members should look for a new mediator and consider taking the matter to the U.N. In earlier remarks to the summit, he called Israel a “terror state.”
That comes from a Hamas backer with close alleged ties to Islamic terrorists in Syria.
Last week, Abbas’ aides said the Palestinian leader would not meet with Mike Pence during the U.S. vice president’s planned visit to Israel and the West Bank next week.
I'm sure Pence is heartbroken.
King Abdullah II of Jordan told the gathering that Trump’s “grave” decision threatened the resumption of any peace talks.
Peace talks between Abdullah II and his sizable stateless Palestinian population which will one day overthrow him and his proposed Star Trek theme park? Peace between Israel and Jordan, which has been keeping his entire Hashemite line and their British mistresses in power for generations?
Saudi Arabia did not participate in a high-level capacity. But in Riyadh, King Salman and his powerful son and heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, met Wednesday with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who also leads the United Arab Emirates’ armed forces. A statement said they discussed “the serious repercussions of the negative decision of the U.S. to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”
The Saudis and the UAE have bigger priorities than the usual ritualistic barking at Israel. At least right now.