U.S. Secretary Mike Pompeo Pursued Diplomacy with Palestinian Officials

FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

U.S. Secretary Mike Pompeo Pursued Diplomacy with Palestinian Officials

May 30, 2018 (EIRNS)—A little over a month ago, prior to being sworn in as Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo met in Washington with Majid Faraj, the head of the Palestinian Authority’s security and intelligence services, who is also close to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, reported Israel’s Ha’aretz daily.

The meeting took place, despite the Palestinians decision to boycott the Trump administration, over its pro-Israel stance and moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, which both Palestine and Israel claim as their capital.

Pompeo was no doubt meeting on President Trump’s behalf. Recall that Pompeo carried out a sensitive and very successful diplomatic mission to Pyongyang and met with Chairman Kim Jong-un on April 16, laying the groundwork for a meeting between Kim and Trump.

According to Ha’aretz, at the end of June, Trump is expected to announce his plan for reaching a Palestinian peace agreement, which may coincide with a plan for a Gaza ceasefire. Pompeo and Faraj are said to have a close working relationship, which reportedly began last winter when Faraj helped arrange Pompeo’s visit to Ramallah, on the West Bank.

Pompeo has shown a deep interest in the Middle East affairs, and his first trip as Secretary of State included Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Although he was focussed on Iran, he also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian peace process with those he met.