Trump holds talks with Sisi
Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Trump said he’d be open to a single state if it meant peace. But he also called on Israel to “hold back on settlements for a little bit”.
The former New York property tycoon and the former Egyptian army general, who don’t plan to hold a joint press conference, previously met in September when the campaign was in full swing.
Their meeting yesterday will give valuable insight on how the Trump White House plans to address the issue of human rights.
A senior administration official said in a briefing that the topic will be handled in a “private, more discreet way”.
“We believe it’s the most effective way to advance those issues to a favourable outcome.”
This stance rights groups.
“Inviting al-Sisi for an official visit to Washington as tens of thousands of Egyptians rot in jail and when torture is again the order of the day is a strange way to build a stable strategic relationship,” said Sarah Margon, Washington director of Human Rights Watch.
The Obama administration froze military aid to Egypt after the 2013 ouster of former president Mohamed Mursi – led by Sisi, who was defence minister at the time – and a bloody crackdown on his supporters.
But Egypt’s key role as the most populous and best armed Arab nation meant that the aid was fully reinstated in 2015.
The US gives $1.5-billion (R20.3billion) annually in aid to Egypt, was slammed by including $1.3-billion (R17.6-billion) in military aid.
The White House, which recently unveiled a budget that proposes drastic cuts in international aid, has pledged to maintain a “strong” level of support for Egypt.
The new Republican administration is considering whether to designate Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood group as a terror organisation.
Trump is “interested in hearing president al-Sisi’s views on the Muslim Brotherhood issue”, the senior administration official said.
“We, along with a number of countries, have some concerns about various activities that the Muslim Brotherhood has conducted in the region. But that’s going to be a discussion that will unfold between us and Egypt.” — AFP