Trump Administration
The existence of the Jewish state ensures that “the entire region remains pro-Western and pro-American,” the prime minister says, adding that Israel is the only country in the world that doesn’t ask for “American boots on the ground” to fight on its behalf.
“Bahrain was just simply a terrible exercise,” said Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. “I think it’s an economic workshop that has been fully and totally divorced from reality.”
Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa also affirmed that Israel is “part of the heritage of the Middle East.”
Ahead of waivers expected to be reviewed in August, U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has increased pressure on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to renew them.
The Bahrain economic conference, which seeks to be the first step in the Trump administration’s efforts to bring peace between the Israelis and Palestinians, has been vilified by the Palestinians, who called the Trump plan “dead on arrival” and have boycotted the summit.
Ahead of the workshop, the Trump administration released a 40-page document detailing a $50 billion, 10-year investment plan for the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon.
According to a 40-page document, the plan would drastically reduce unemployment in the Palestinian Authority and create a high-speed train from Gaza to Judea and Samaria.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Advisor John Bolton and CIA Director Gina Haspel supported a military response to the downing of the drone, but top Pentagon officials warned that an attack on Iran might endanger American forces in the region.
Planes were scrambled and ships moved into position for an attack early Friday morning, but they ultimately got the order to stand down.
“The question is whether the sides can manage the escalation and what steps Washington needs to take to re-establish a level of deterrence,” Security Studies Group senior fellow Matthew Brodsky told JNS.
“This is a very detailed peace vision. You cannot have a successful peace agreement without a successful economic plan. We are worried about the days, weeks, months and years after,” stated U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt.
It was an unprecedented move by the Persian Gulf country, which does not have diplomatic ties with the Jewish state and for the first time will allow Israeli journalists to report from its soil.
