Trump due in Israel to pave way for resumption of peace talks
                 Source: Xinhua | 2017-05-22 16:19:59 | Editor: huaxia

(FILES) This file photo taken on February 15, 2017 shows US President Donald Trump (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shaking hands following a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, DC. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

JERUSALEM, May 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump is heading to Israel on Monday morning, where he will hold meetings about the long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and reaffirm the U.S. alliance with Israel.

This is the second leg of of Trump's first official trip abroad as president. In his visit to Saudi Arabia, he signed 350-billion-dollar arms deal.

During Trump's two-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian West Bank, Trump will meet Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday before traveling to Bethlehem to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Tuesday.

The meetings will focus on the U.S. efforts to revive the long-stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. The last round of talks reached an impasse in April 2014, mainly due to Israel's refusal to halt the construction in the West Bank settlements.

On Tuesday, Trump is scheduled to give a speech at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem to conclude his visit, before heading to Europe.

On Sunday night, Israel's cabinet approved a few economic concessions to the Palestinians requested by Trump, including the establishment of two industrial zones and keeping the Allenby Bridge crossing between the West Bank and Jordan open 24 hours a day.

The cabinet also voted to establish a committee to examine legalizing outposts which were built without permits on private Palestinian land in the West Bank.

"The security cabinet has approved economic measures that will ease daily life for Palestinians as confidence-building steps," the cabinet said in a statement.

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Trump due in Israel to pave way for resumption of peace talks

Source: Xinhua 2017-05-22 16:19:59

(FILES) This file photo taken on February 15, 2017 shows US President Donald Trump (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shaking hands following a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, DC. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

JERUSALEM, May 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump is heading to Israel on Monday morning, where he will hold meetings about the long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and reaffirm the U.S. alliance with Israel.

This is the second leg of of Trump's first official trip abroad as president. In his visit to Saudi Arabia, he signed 350-billion-dollar arms deal.

During Trump's two-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian West Bank, Trump will meet Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday before traveling to Bethlehem to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Tuesday.

The meetings will focus on the U.S. efforts to revive the long-stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. The last round of talks reached an impasse in April 2014, mainly due to Israel's refusal to halt the construction in the West Bank settlements.

On Tuesday, Trump is scheduled to give a speech at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem to conclude his visit, before heading to Europe.

On Sunday night, Israel's cabinet approved a few economic concessions to the Palestinians requested by Trump, including the establishment of two industrial zones and keeping the Allenby Bridge crossing between the West Bank and Jordan open 24 hours a day.

The cabinet also voted to establish a committee to examine legalizing outposts which were built without permits on private Palestinian land in the West Bank.

"The security cabinet has approved economic measures that will ease daily life for Palestinians as confidence-building steps," the cabinet said in a statement.

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