Trump's jab to Abbas too subtle after Abbas' veiled threats and demands in Bethlehem

President Trump, in his statement following his meeting with PLO leader Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem, said a very important thing that the Arab media ignored:

Peace can never take root in an environment where violence is tolerated, funded or rewarded.  We must be resolute in condemning such acts in a single, unified voice. 

Unfortunately, Trump extemporized a comment about the Manchester bombing immediately beforehand, so the Palestinians can pretend that this statement was not directed towards them and their policy of tolerating, funding and rewarding terror. And indeed, in the official report on the meeting, the official Wafa news agency did not mention a word about this key paragraph meant to be a direct rebuke to the Palestinians.

Abbas was not so subtle in his speech.

Dear friend President Donald Trump , I am delighted to welcome you in Palestine, the cradle of Christ, which set off the message of love, peace and tolerance to the world.

Abbas attempts to co-opt Netanyahu's constant referring to Trump as a friend.

Let me condemn the heinous terrorist act in the British city of Manchester, which claimed the lives of dozens of dead and wounded. I extend warm condolences to the Prime Minister of Britain and the families of the victims and the British people .

Even though I pay millions of dollars to families of people who perform the exact same kind of attacks.

The meeting with you in the White House earlier this month, giving us the Palestinian people and sent a lot of hope and ambition in the possibility of achieving a long-awaited dream in a long-awaited peace based on justice.

"Justice" is a code word for no compromise - Palestinians believe that they deserve everything they demand. And only they can decide when they have received "justice," something they do not accept until Israel is ultimately erased.

The achievement by the Palestinian people 's freedom and independence is the key to peace and stability in our region and the world... We reaffirm our commitment to cooperation for peace - making a historic peace between us and the Israelis, as we reiterate our readiness to continue to work with you as partners in the fight against terrorism in our region and the world .

Abbas is subtly threatening that if there is no peace deal acceptable to him, then Palestinians will continue to kill and try to kill, and they will be happy to be the excuse that ISIS and Al Qaeda use for their own terror attacks.

Manchester would have happened if there was a Palestinian state or not. It is time to call out the liars who pretend otherwise.

We assure you once again to our adoption of a two-state solution on the 1967 borders, with the State of Palestine and its capital in East Jerusalem, living side by side with Israel in security, safety and good-neighborliness, and resolving the permanent status issues on the basis of international law and international legitimacy, respect for the signed agreements, paving the way for the application the Arab peace initiative, as has been re-emphasized in the recent Arab summit in Jordan.

Abbas can't directly call for "right of return" in this statement, but his reference to the Arab peace initiative is meant to include that demand.

As seen Yesterday during the historic visit of the holy places in the occupied East Jerusalem and today in Bethlehem, the conflict is not between religions, Respect for religions and the Apostles is an integral part of our beliefs and we are keen to open the door to dialogue with our neighbors, the Israelis, in order to promote confidence and create a real opportunity for peace .

Abbas is seizing on Trump's visit to the Old City without any Israeli officials to emphasize that it is "occupied."

Note that he does not refer to Bethlehem as "occupied" even though Palestinians insist it is.

And he has no respect for Judaism.

Our real problem is with the occupation and the settlements and Israel's failure to recognize the State of Palestine, as we recognized them, which undermines the achievement of a two-state solution.

Israel offered peace which would include recognition. Many times. Abbas rejected it. but he is demanding Israel recognize "Palestine" before negotiations, not afterwards.

On the issue of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike for more than a month, a few meters away from here next to the Church of the Nativity and everywhere in Palestine, suffering mothers and families of prisoners are not able to visit their children, in a humane and fair way, and I call upon the Israeli government to respond to these legitimate humanitarian demands.

The prisoners aren't demanding family visits. They are demanding more family visits, family visits from distant relatives,  and photos being allowed to be taken, These demands have nothing to do with humanitarianism.

Achieving peace, Mr. President, will open the horizon and wide to the advancement of our economy and the completion of our national institutions, on the basis of the rule of law in the spirit of tolerance and coexistence, and spreading the culture of peace and non-violence and incitement, and build bridges instead of fences inside our territory.

Here, Abbas says that he won't accept co-existence with Jews until he gets all his demands, There are lots of European projects on co-existence that have floundered since Abbas rejects any talks with Jews outside of accepting his demands as "normalization," a curse word to the Arabs.

That's why there is no peace.

Once again I greet you best greetings, His Excellency accompanying you and the delegation of President, I welcome you in Palestine, the Holy Land, wishing you success in the importance of your tour which you will meet with His Holiness Pope Francis, who we appreciate for his dedicated efforts for peace, wishing you success of the American people, friendly good health.

Here is where Abbas insists that every Jewish holy site is Palestinian.

This was not a speech of peace, but one of demands and threats and lies.

Even so, Palestinian media is saying that Abbas' speech was notable for what he didn't say: no insistence on a settlement freeze or prisoner release before talks with Israel.

They also note the absence of the prime minister of the PA., Rami Hamdallah.  That is something that may be worth watching.

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