Trump told Herzog he's serious about reaching peace deal

“The president left us with nice pictures but no diplomatic horizon."

By GIL HOFFMAN
Updated: MAY 24, 2017 11:02
Zionist Union head Isaac Herzog speaks to the press (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Zionist Union head Isaac Herzog speaks to the press
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
President Donald Trump told Labor Party Chairman Isaac Herzog that he is serious about reaching a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. Herzog met Trump for 10 minutes prior to the president's speech at the Israel Museum on Tuesday. 
Trump, The Jerusalem Post learned, told Herzog that he was serious about making peace. The president's adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner told Herzog that the Trump administration would act quickly to get the diplomatic process on track with the objective of reaching a peace deal.
On Tuesday, Knesset members from across the political spectrum expressed satisfaction with  Trump’s visit to Israel with the exception of Labor leadership candidate Erel Margalit.
“Trump’s visit will be remembered as a historic failure,” Margalit said. “The president left us with nice pictures but no diplomatic horizon. Instead of taking advantage of Trump’s arrival from Saudi Arabia to advance a deal, Netanyahu gave Israel embarrassing selfies, banter on plastering his house and no achievements.”
Labor leadership candidate Amir Peretz said Trump delivered a vision of security and peace that should be turned into action by the Israeli government. Candidate Avi Gabbay praised Trump but warned against Labor joining the government to promote the president’s peacemaking efforts.
Many MKs used English messages on social media to compliment Trump following his address at the Israel Museum. Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, who did not meet with Trump, thanked him on Twitter “for a powerful speech and for your commitment to our security. Israel has a true friend in the White House.”
Science and Technology Minister Ophir Akunis (Likud) said “every Israeli should be happy with his speech” and that Trump and his wife, Melania, would be welcomed in the Likud.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Bayit Yehudi) said a president who visits and prays at the Western Wall and draws a direct line between the Jewish temples and the modern State of Israel is a president with his heart in the right place.
“During his stay President Trump displayed an understanding and appreciation for the generation-old connection between the Jewish People and the Land of Israel, and stressed there is no room, justification or purpose for acts of terror,” Bennett said. “The president spoke about peace six times, and in all he avoided supporting a Palestinian state, which would undoubtedly be an obstacle to achieving that goal.”