The United States is working to convene a Middle East peace summit in the next few weeks, a senior Emirati diplomat told Israel Hayom Monday. The Emirati official said that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's five-day visit to the Middle East and Africa, which began in Jerusalem, is part of Washington's effort to lay the groundwork for the peace summit. Sources familiar with the issue said that the summit is to take place in one of the Persian Gulf sheikdoms, adding that the US is trying to secure the participation of Bahrain, Oman, Morocco, Sudan, and Chad, alongside Israel and the UAE. The diplomat added that prior to and during Pompeo's visit to Israel, Palestinian officials were invited to the summit. The message was also conveyed to the PA that Pompeo is willing to visit PA President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah to personally invite him to the summit. Abbas and other PA officials dismissed the offer, snubbing the top American diplomat "and even sent the message that Pompeo is not wanted in Ramallah," the UAE official said.
Summit to take place in one of the Persian Gulf sheikdoms in the next few weeks, Arab diplomat says. US trying to secure the participation of Bahrain, Oman, Morocco, Sudan, and Chad, alongside Israel and the UAE. PM Netanyahu confident "more countries will follow UAE." Read more...