TEL AVIV — President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt lambasted the Palestinian Authority for shunning a U.S.-led economic workshop in Bahrain next month, saying the Palestinians will be “judged harshly” for rejecting the opportunity for a “brighter future” for themselves.
“It’s difficult to understand why the Palestinian Authority would reject a workshop designed to discuss a vision with the potential to radically transform lives and put people on a path toward a brighter future,” Greenblatt said.
“History will judge the Palestinian Authority harshly for passing up any opportunity that could give the Palestinians something so very different, and something so very positive, compared to what they have today,” he added.
“Palestinians deserve dignity, opportunity and a better way of life.”
PA Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh on Monday said that the Palestinians would not attend the Bahrain summit since they were not seeking an improvement in living conditions “under the occupation.”
Ahmed Majdalani, social development minister and member of the Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee, reiterated Shtayyeh’s comments, saying: “There will be no Palestinian participation in the Manama workshop.”
“Any Palestinian who would take part would be nothing but a collaborator for the Americans and Israel,” he said.
According to Greenblatt, “by encouraging Palestinians to reject the workshop, the PA is shamefully trying to block their path toward a better future.”
Greenblatt said the so-called “deal of the century” is an “ambitious but achievable” vision for the Palestinians.
“It’s an exciting road map, which includes a detailed portfolio of real projects and capacity-building programs, that has the potential to unleash sustainable, private sector-driven growth — but we understand that only through peace and a solution to the final status issues can this level of growth be possible,” said Greenblatt.
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