New hope for Palestine,

▶ At meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, president says ‘we have best shot ever’ at getting a deal

Hopes of reviving the Israeli-Palestinian peace process blossomed over New York yesterday as Donald Trump pledged to devote his heart and soul to reaching an agreement.

The American president made his promise after critical meetings with Palestinian, Jordanian and Egyptian leaders.

“I think we have a pretty good shot, maybe the best shot ever,” Mr Trump said at the beginning of his meeting – his third this year – with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

He could make no promises, he said, but promised to “devote everything within my heart and within my soul to get that deal made”.

He hinted at regional support for an agreement from Arab states, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

“Who knows? Stranger things have happened,” he said.

Mr Trump’s upbeat tone seemed to rub off on the Palestinian leader who also saw hope in any potential peace talks brokered by the Americans.

“This gives us the assurance and the confidence that we are on the verge of real peace,” Mr Abbas said. The Palestinian leader praised Mr Trump’s “seriousness” and determination. He took the fact that there had been more than 20 meetings with the US delegation since January 20 as a sign of US commitment to reaching a solution.

After wishing the Jewish people a happy new year, Mr Abbas assured the US delegation that they would encounter “utmost seriousness on our part to achieve peace ... we can coexist peacefully together.”

A Palestinian diplomat said that Mr Abbas is waiting for specific ideas from the US on its vision for peace. These ideas are being prepared by the US envoy Jason Greenblatt, Mr Trump’s advisers Dina Powell and Jared Kushner, who visited the region last month. For the Palestinians any framework for peace must include a commitment to a two-state solution – something neither Mr Trump nor Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu have committed to so far.

Mr Trump’s meeting with the Palestinian president was one of three with Middle Eastern leaders yesterday. He hosted King Abdullah of Jordan and was expected to meet his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El Sisi later in the evening.

Mr El Sisi made the Palestinian-Israeli peace push a central part of his UNGA speech, calling upon both leaders to take advantage of an opportunity that “may not repeat itself”.

Egypt is making headway in its mediation efforts between the Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas, which could unify their ranks in any peace talks.

Addressing the Israeli public, Mr Sisi said “do not hesitate … we are standing with you to make this step a success”.

He also encouraged Mr Trump to “write a new page of the history of mankind by establishing peace in this region of the world”.

Mr Trump discussed the peace process, counter-ISIL efforts and de-escalation zones in Syria with the king of Jordan, calling the king “our partner and ally for a long time”. The “relationship has not been better than it is right now” he said, and thanked Jordan for its efforts in taking in refugees.

King Abdullah praised the “special relationship between our two countries and how closely we work together” reminding everyone that this is their fourth meeting this year. The two leaders stressed a united front in fighting terrorism.

“Terrorism is a scourge around the world, but I think Jordan will always stand beside you and your country.

“And we will overcome,” King Abdullah said.