Report: Abbas admits Trump was 'enraged' during Bethlehem meeting
Abbas reportedly blamed Israel for the "incitement" against him which he said brought about the tense meeting with the president.
By YASSER OKBI/ MAARIV HASHAVUAUpdated: JUNE 1, 2017 12:42Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (R) and US President Donald Trump listen to anthems during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Bethlehem on May 23, 2017(photo credit: THOMAS COEX / AFP)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told a PLO meeting on Tuesday that his "meeting with President Donald Trump was not comfortable," because the American leader was "enraged."The London-based Al-Arabi al Jadid news-site quoted a senior Palestinian source who said that Abbas told those present about the "uncomfortable meeting with Trump in Bethlehem," on May 23 as opposed to the "positive" meeting at the White House with the US president earlier that month.Trump arrives at the Presidential palace in Bethlehem (credit: REUTERS)The source told the site that Abbas blamed Israel for the "incitement" against him which he said brought about the tense meeting with the president.During the meeting, Trump showed Abbas a video in which he is shown saying "we incite and the Israelis incite," to which Abbas responded by accusing someone of doctoring the video to make him look bad."You have the CIA. Ask them to check the video and find out how and who forged it to make me look bad," Abbas reportedly told the president.According to the source, there are no plans for direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Abbas told the PLO meeting that there will be a committee made up of five Palestinians and five Americans that will discuss the peace process.Abbas also attacked the prisoner hunger strike and said it was a conspiracy to undermine him.