- Title: Palestinians doubtful ahead of U.S president Trump's visit to the region
- Date: 18th May 2017
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE PALESTINIAN LIBERATION ORGANIZATION, AHMAD MAJDALANI, SAYING: "(United States) President, Trump, as I said, will be visiting the region and has a schedule and specific goals, during this visit. We do not believe that now, the American administration will be putting a new vision for the peace process. It (American administration) is still in the exploration phase and in the phase of building and forming its new vision in its intervention in the region." RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (MAY 16, 2017) (REUTERS) SIGN OF MUWATIN INSTITUTE, READING (English and Arabic): "MUWATIN, THE PALESTINIAN INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF DEMOCRACY" POLITICAL ANALYST, GEORGE JAQAMAN, AT HIS OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) POLITICAL ANALYST, GEORGE JAQAMAN, SAYING: "He (Donald Trump) expressed an interest in solving the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis but there are no details really as to how he envisions that such solution will be. It is clear that the Israeli government has been lobbying with the Trump administration and the Palestinian side attempted to try to influence to some degree the position of various advisors to President Trump, but the outlines of such a policy are still not clear." JERUSALEM (MAY 17, 2017) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING TOWARDS THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM ISRAELI SECURITY GUARD AT ENTRANCE OF OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM WOMEN WALKING OUT OF THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF JERUSALEM, RA'EDA AL-SALHOT, SAYING: "We are interested in peace and progress (in the political situation) but I do not think so, I do not expect anything from him (Donald Trump)." PEOPLE AT JERUSALEM STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF JERUSALEM, KAMAL MASWADEH, SAYING: "The visit of (Donald) Trump does not have any value at all. Israel does not get convinced with anything in the world." BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK (MAY 17, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF PALESTINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE, WHERE PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT, MAHMOUD ABBAS WILL BE MEETING WITH U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP CARS AT BETHLEHEM STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF BETHLEHEM, MUNTHER AMIREH, SAYING: "If the state of Israel continues in ignoring the rights of the (Palestinian) prisoners and their requests, there will be many events, during (Donald) Trump's visit, before Trump's visit or after it, by boycotting (Israel), blocking the roads or by civil disobedience." KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA (MAY 15, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CARS AND PEOPLE AT KHAN YOUNIS STREET GAZA CITY, GAZA (MAY 17, 2017) (REUTERS) HAMAS SPOKESPERSON, FAWZI BARHOUM, SITTING AT HIS DESK FLAG OF HAMAS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HAMAS SPOKESPERSON, FAWZI BARHOUM, SAYING: "We do not have high expectations and do not put much hope on this visit, because the American administrations including the administration of (Donald) Trump, support completely the Israeli occupation both politically, security-wise and in military and is still denying the rights of the Palestinian people. What is requested from the American president is real, effective and practical support for all the rights for the Palestinians." KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA (MAY 15, 2017) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET CART AND CARS AT STREET TRAFFIC POLICE MAN AT STREET CARS AND PEOPLE AT STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF KHAN YOUNIS, ISMAEL AL-FAQAAWI, SAYING: "There is nothing good behind it (visit) because Israel as we said, Israel is a state of America, an American state, so it is not possible that America will push on Israel for the Arabs." CARS DRIVING AT KHAN YOUNIS STREET VARIOUS OF MARKET AT KHAN YOUNIS
- Embargoed: 1st June 2017 11:59
- Keywords: Visit US President Donald Trump Palestinians
- Location: RAMALLAH, BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK/ JERUSALEM/ KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA CITY, GAZA
- City: RAMALLAH, BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK/ JERUSALEM/ KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA CITY, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0036HD70P3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza expressed doubt ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East next week.
While welcoming Trump's efforts and committing themselves to work with him, some Palestinian officials remain wary that he has yet to publicly back a two-state solution, the longtime bedrock of U.S. and international policy.
Donald Trump will make the earliest foray into Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking by any U.S. president next week, but with mounting obstacles at home and abroad he faces long odds of succeeding where more experienced predecessors have failed.
Trump has boasted that with his negotiating skills he can bring Israelis and Palestinians together to resolve one of the world's most intractable conflicts and do "the ultimate deal". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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