Trump’s chief adviser on international relations is on an “orientation trip” to Israel and the Palestinian Authority in order to “gain perspective” and hear “both sides.”
Jason Greenblatt, the Trump administration’s special representative for international negotiations, arrived in Jerusalem Monday for what State Department Spokesperson Mark Toner described as “the first of many visits” to the region in order to familiarize himself with the attitudes on both sides. He is not expected to announce any new initiative at this point.
“He’s really there to listen to both sides and how they perceive getting to a peace process,” Toner told reporters Monday at a media briefing. “I don’t expect any big developments out of this trip.”
“Settlements will obviously be a topic of discussion, but I wouldn’t predict there would be any resolution of that issue,” he said.
The US president has expressed eagerness to help Israel and the PA make a peace deal.