US envoy ends Mideast visit with vows to seek peace

A US envoy wrapped up his first visit to the Middle East with commitments from Israel and the Palestinians to advance "a genuine and lasting peace."
A joint US-Palestinian statement gave few details on how President Donald Trump plans to break decades of deadlock and hostilities. It said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would discuss possibilities for peace with Trump on an upcoming visit to Washington.
Trump campaigned on promises that he would depart from decades of American policy in the region, and he signaled a much closer relationship with Israel than former President Barack Obama.
His platform made no mention of Palestinian statehood, a key goal of the US and international community for two decades. He promised to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to disputed Jerusalem, a move favored by Israel and bitterly opposed by the Palestinians, and signaled much greater tolerance for Israeli settlement construction on occupied lands.

But since taking office, Trump appears to have backpedaled. He seems to be in no rush to move the embassy, and during a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month, he urged restraint on Israeli settlement construction. He also has left the door open to a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
The visit by Trump's envoy, Jason Greenblatt, appeared to be aimed largely at listening to both sides as the White House decides how to move forward. The US issued similarly worded statements after a meeting with Netanyahu on Monday and Abbas yesterday.
In his talks with the Israelis, Greenblatt affirmed Trump's commitment to Israel's security. With the Palestinians, he discussed plans to help grow their economy. On the settlement issue, the statement said the US and Israel held discussions in hopes of finding an approach "that is consistent with the goal of advancing peace and security."

In a gesture to Israel, yesterday's statement said that Abbas committed to "preventing inflammatory rhetoric and incitement" and to "heighten his outreach efforts to the Israeli public." Both men also affirmed the "joint determination to combat violence and terrorism.