Trump to try hand at Mideast peace talks

Palestinian leader to visit White House

RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territory — U.S. President Donald Trump has invited Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to the White House to discuss resuming peace talks in their first contact since Trump took office in January.

Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeneh said that Abbas would travel “very soon.”

The White House said in a statement that the two leaders on Friday discussed ways to advance peace throughout the Middle East, including a comprehensive agreement that would end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“The president emphasized his personal belief that peace is possible and that the time has come to make a deal,” the White House said. “The president noted that such a deal would not only give Israelis and Palestinians the peace and security they deserve, but that it would reverberate positively throughout the region and the world.”

Trump underscored that such a peace agreement must be negotiated directly between the two parties, and that the United States will work closely with Palestinian and Israeli leadership to make progress toward that goal, the statement said.

“We are ready to deal with President Trump and the Israeli government to resume the negotiations,” Abu Rdeneh said. “If the Israelis are ready, President Abbas has committed himself to a peaceful deal with President Trump.”

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli government.

The last round of U.S.-mediated peace talks collapsed in 2014.

Friday’s call was the first between Trump and Abbas since Trump took office.