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Trump envoy headed to Israel for ‘deal of the century’ talks

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The White House confirmed on Thursday that Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt will arrive in Israel next week to address the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

By World Israel News Staff

US President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt is slated to visit Israel in the coming week, notwithstanding the lack of a firm release date for the president’s “deal of the century” peace plan.

A White House official reportedly confirmed the visit directly to Axios, referencing “the administration’s commitment to productive engagement” and “the value it places on understanding the situation on the ground, especially amid recent tensions.”

The latter comment appeared to be a reference to the ongoing unrest in the Gaza Strip, where the Hamas terror group has fomented violent rioting, rocket strikes, and airborne arson attacks using kites and balloons.

While Greenblatt is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it remains unlikely that there will be a sit-down with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who has maintained an administration-wide boycott of the Trump team since the president recognized that Israel’s capital is Jerusalem and subsequently moved the US’ embassy there.

According to the Axios report, Israeli officials said Greenblatt plans to stay in Israel for close to a week and meet with a number of senior officials, in addition to Netanyahu. The report also claimed that Greenblatt would address efforts by the Egyptians and the United Nations to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas.

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Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman recently dismissed the importance of such a truce, commenting earlier in the week, “I do not believe in any arrangement with Hamas. It does not work, it has not worked in the past, it will not work in the future.”

Liberman maintains that Israel has “reached a situation of no choice. Anything other than dealing the most severe blow – the heaviest we can – on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, will not help. We are truly in a situation of no choice.”