President Donald Trump held separate phone calls with several Middle Eastern leaders on Tuesday during which he reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and potential decisions regarding Jerusalem.
The calls came hours after a deadline passed for Trump to sign a biannual presidential waiver that would have again delayed moving the United States embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Trump spoke in separate calls on Tuesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt, and His Majesty King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.
The White House gave a broad description of the topics discussed on those calls, including Middle East peace and what sounded to be a talk of moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel:
The President reaffirmed his commitment to advancing Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and the importance of supporting those talks. He underscored the importance of bilateral cooperation with each partner to advance peace efforts throughout the region. The leaders also discussed potential decisions regarding Jerusalem.
Reports emerged the same day that “Trump informed [Abbas] on his intention to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,” according to the Palestine Authority’s news agency Wafa. According to that report, Jordan’s King Abdullah II warned Trump that there would be “dangerous repercussions” for the region.
Follow Michelle Moons on Twitter @MichelleDiana.