FM Malki: US Officials’ Refusal to Visit Western Wall with Israelis a Good Start

Israel has asked the Trump administration to clarify comments by a US official that the Western Wall is part of the West Bank.

Ramallah, 21 Sha’ban 1438/18 May 2017 (MINA) – Refusal of US officials to visit al-Buraq (the Western Wall) in Jerusalem’s Old City accompanied by Israeli officials is a good start for US President Donald Trump’s role in the region, WAFA reported, citing Foreign Minister Riyad Malki on Wednesday.

Speaking to Voice of Palestine, Malki applauded the position of the US officials who refused to be accompanied by Israeli officials during a visit to the Western Wall and other holy places in the Old City and who insisted that his part of Jerusalem is considered occupied territory and part of the West Bank.

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He said US special envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt has arrived in the region and was scheduled to meet Palestinian officials on Wednesday and Thursday in preparation for Trump’s visit.

Trump is expected to visit Israel on Monday where he will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then travel to Bethlehem the next day for a meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas.

Malki called media reports that Gulf states have offered to normalize relations with Israel in exchange for freezing settlement construction in the West Bank as merely an Israeli plot intended to interfere with Trump’s summit with leaders of Arab and Islamic countries on May 21 in Riyadh.

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He said the Arab countries have adopted a clear position that supports the Palestinian cause during the 28th Arab Summit on March 29, affirming that it would be the same position that Trump would hear during his meetings in Riyadh. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)