US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman on Tuesday, 17 Tammuz, attended a meeting between US Special Envoy to the Mideast Jason Greenblatt and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen).

Do date, the PA has insisted that US representatives exclude the ambassador due to his known personal views.

However, this was not the case and Ambassador Friedman was present for the Ramallah meeting with Greenblatt and US Consul General in Jerusalem Donald Blome. The Times of Israel quoting a senior White House official who reported “They had an open, cordial, and frank discussion on many topics related to peace negotiations.”

Israel reported that the PA negotiators waited in Jerusalem for they were unwilling to host Friedman in Ramallah.

The Times of Israel report states the meeting was to lay the groundwork for a resumption in talks between the PA and Israel. The White House source is quoted adding, “The administration believes that in order to give everyone the best chance to reach an ultimate deal, it is critical to have negotiators that are close with the president and that is why the team includes Senior Adviser Jared Kushner, Greenblatt and Friedman.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)