Pompeo arrives in Israel to press Trump's Mideast peace push

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo landed in Israel on Monday, on first leg of his Mideast press momentum of Trump ministration’s Arab-Israeli peace push. Pompeo was scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and discuss recently anunced historic agreement between Israel and United Arab Emirates, brokered by Washington, to establish diplomatic ties. two were expected to also discuss Iran and China.

agreement delivered a key foreign policy victory to President Donald Trump as he seeks reelection and reflected changing Middle East in which shared concerns about archenemy Iran have largely overtaken tritional Arab support for Palestinians. Earlier this month, U.S., Israel and UAE anunced deal to establish full diplomatic relations, which also requires Israel to freeze its plans to annex parts of occupied West Bank sought by Palestinians as part of ir future state.

Later in trip, Pompeo was to meet with Netanyahu's partner in government and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, as well as Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi. After his Israel stop, Pompeo was also slated to visit Sudan, UAE and Bahrain, with ditional stops in Gulf possible, State Department h said. In Sudan, secretary of state said he would push for  “deepening Sudan-Israel relationship.” 

(Im Credits: US Embassy Jerusalem)