Abbas meets World Jewish Congress head on Israel talks

U.S. businessman's visit said to be in a strictly private capacity and had no ties to the Trump administration; Lauder, PA president said to have discussed 'range of issues regarding Palestine, Mideast'
Reuters|
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder in the West Bank on Saturday, a Palestinian minister said, following a call by Lauder for Palestinians to revive peace talks with Israel.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter


  • Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh revealed the meeting in a Twitter posting but gave no details.
    3 View gallery
    World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder
    World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder
    World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder
    (Photo: Getty Images)
    Lauder, a U.S. businessman who also met Abbas a year ago in New York, attended the Sept. 15 White House signing ceremony of an agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to forge formal ties.
    He told Saudi newspaper Arab News on Sept. 16 that he hoped the accord would bring the Palestinians and Israel back to peace talks, which collapsed in 2014.
    3 View gallery
    President Mahmoud Abbas gestures during a meeting with the Palestinian leadership to discuss the United Arab Emirates' deal with Israel to normalize relations,
    President Mahmoud Abbas gestures during a meeting with the Palestinian leadership to discuss the United Arab Emirates' deal with Israel to normalize relations,
    President Mahmoud Abbas gestures during a meeting with the Palestinian leadership to discuss the United Arab Emirates' deal with Israel to normalize relations
    (Photo: EPA)
    The World Jewish Congress said in a statement that Lauder met the Palestinian leader on Saturday "for a private visit at Abbas' invitation, to discuss a range of issues regarding Palestine and the Middle East."
    In Washington, a person familiar with the matter said Lauder's visit was not coordinated with or on behalf of the Trump administration but was in a strictly private capacity.
    The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
    3 View gallery
    President Trump meets with Mahmoud Abbas
    President Trump meets with Mahmoud Abbas
    U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Mahmoud Abbas
    (Photo: EPA)
    The Palestinians have cut off diplomatic ties with the Trump administration, which they have long accused of pro-Israel bias, and spurned the Gulf states' diplomatic moves with Israel.
    A Palestinian official told Reuters on condition of anonymity that Lauder was not carrying a message from the White House. A second Palestinian source said Abbas discussed the call he made at the United Nations last month for a UN-led peace conference early next year.
    Comments
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""