Trump Told UN Chief: Netanyahu Harder to Convince on Peace Than Abbas

Says Netanyahu the 'Bigger Problem' in Deal

Jason Ditz 

Posted onOctober 4, 2017CategoriesNewsTagsIsrael, Trump, UN

According to those familiar with the situation, President Trump briefed UN Security-General Antonio Guterres on his efforts at restarting the Israel-Palestinian peace process, saying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is proven a difficult problem to overcome.

Trump conceded that both leaders are “problematic,” and that it’s difficult to convince either on the peace process, but that Netanyahu is “the bigger problem,” and a lot harder to bring on board with his efforts.

Trump was said to have expressed optimism about eventually reaching a deal anyhow. He believes Abbas’s age was an advantage because he “needs a legacy to leave behind,” and that he expects Netanyahu to eventually realize he’ll never have a more pro-Israel president to deal with.

Making peace is a tough issue for Netanyahu, however, as the far-right coalition government he leads has a number of members openly opposed to Palestinian statehood, and any progress on peace will necessarily harm him politically in the near-term.

http://news.antiwar.com/2017/10/04/trump-told-un-chief-netanyahu-harder-to-convince-on-peace-than-abbas/