Livni and Erekat
Photo: Reuters
Both Livni and Erekat optimistic on Trump Mideast bid
The two negotiators, who had in the past tried to bring about peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, said they are hopeful in light of US Pres. Trump's eduring passion to broker a peace deal.
A pair of veteran Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, who endured repeated failures, expressed rare optimism about US President Donald Trump's efforts to strike a Mideast peace deal.
Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat and former Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni spoke at the World Economic Forum's regional meeting Saturday. The two had peviously represented the Palestinian Authority and Israel, respectively, during the 2013 peace talks, presided over by then-US secretary of State Joh Kerry.
Livni and Erekat (Photo: EPA)
Erekat said he is encouraged by Trump's apparent determination. When asked about Trump's growing domestic difficulties, Erekat said he believes any deal on setting up a Palestinian state alongside Israel would win broad bipartisan support in the US.
L to R: Erekat, Kerry and Lvni during the 2013 peace talks (Photo: Reuters)
Livni, whose 2009 bid for the prime ministership was blocked by aright-wing party majority in the Knesset, said in the session that Arab support for any deal is a "game changer" because it could sway Israeli public opinion. She said that in this context, Trump's meetings with Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia this weekend are "very important."
