TRUMP TELLS JORDAN KING ABOUT ‘A LOT OF PROGRESS ON PEACE’
US official refuses to confirm report of aid freeze to Palestinian Authority
US President Donald Trump hosted King Abdullah II of Jordan on Monday for an hourlong meeting centred on the Middle East peace process, de-escalation efforts in Syria and increasing aid and US ties with Amman.
In their third summit since Mr Trump took office, King Abdullah and Queen Rania received a warm welcome at the White House.
Mr Trump appeared optimistic about the peace process. “We’re doing very well in the Middle East. A lot of progress has been made and it really started with the end of the horrible Iran deal,” he said.
The president thanked King Abdullah, whom he called “a friend”, and lauded his “incredible work” on humanitarian efforts and the issue of refugees.
Jordan hosts more than 1.3 million refugees, mostly those from neighbouring Syria since the war started in 2011.
King Abdullah returned the compliment by praising Mr Trump’s humility.
“If the rest of the world just took a little bit of your humility and your grace to help us, we would be in a lot better position,” he said.
Mr Trump basked in the moment and said: “Remember he used the word ‘humility’ with respect to me. I’m happy with that word. It’s probably the nicest compliment I have received in a long time.”
The situation in south Syria, bordering Jordan, and the peace process topped the agenda at the White House meeting. After economic protests and a change in government this month, the king is seeking US support and expansion in trade and aid from Washington.
Last February, the Trump government approved increasing the annual aid to Jordan to US$1.3 billion (Dh4.77bn), and King Abdullah met the treasury and commerce secretaries on Friday to discuss initiatives.
On Syria, the meeting came as signs that the continuation of the de-escalation agreement between the US, Jordan and Russia is taking shape to avoid a wide military confrontation in southern Syria.
The US embassy in Jordan has reportedly issued a statement telling rebels that it is committed to the de-escalation and will offer air support against the Syrian government.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who is accompanying the king in the US, tweeted on Saturday: “We urge all parties to uphold ceasefire [in] south #Syria to avert new catastrophe. Solution is political and focus must be on reaching it. #Jordan doing all it can to meet needs of 1.3 million Syrians. It can’t host more.
“Consequences of new escalation responsibility of those behind it.”
On the peace process, Mr Trump’s optimism came after a week of meetings for his adviser Jared Kushner and envoy Jason Greenblatt, who visited Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar. Mr Kushner said in an interview with Palestinian paper Al Quds that the US peace plan was “almost done” and touted regional support behind the push.
Also on Monday, Israeli channel i24 reported that the US had “quietly frozen its aid to the Palestinian Authority pending review” and in accordance with the Taylor Force Act that Congress passed in March.
The act orders suspension of US assistance that “directly benefits” the Palestinian Authority until it stops “payment to terrorists”.
A State Department official, however, told The National that US assistance to the Palestinians “continues to be under review, and we have no announcements on funding at this time”.