By Gram Slattery
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Israeli President Isaac Herzog revealed on Sunday that a crucial diplomatic meeting is on the horizon involving U.S. President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and potentially Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. However, Herzog refrained from disclosing specific dates for the scheduled talks.
During an interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo, Herzog was prompted to address Trump’s recent proposal revolving around the acquisition and revitalization of the Gaza Strip. While Herzog refrained from revealing the exact timing and location of the impending meetings, he also kept mum on the potential agenda items. Notably, Herzog mentioned that Trump is slated to confer with Jordan’s King Abdullah in the imminent days, a development that Jordan’s state news agency has already circulated.
“President Trump is gearing up to engage with significant Arab leaders, notably the king of Jordan, the president of Egypt, and I believe the crown prince of Saudi Arabia as well,” Herzog articulated. “It is imperative to heed the perspectives of these partners, engage in dialogue with them, and devise a sustainable plan for the future.”
Saudi Arabia has categorically rejected Trump’s Gaza initiative, a sentiment echoed by numerous global leaders. Ahead of the planned meeting with Trump in Washington on February 11, Jordan’s King Abdullah intends to convey his apprehensions regarding the proposal, warning that it could catalyze radicalism and sow turmoil across the Middle East, thereby jeopardizing the kingdom’s peace accord with Israel, as reported by Reuters earlier this week.
At the time of writing, the White House had not issued a response. Efforts to reach officials in Cairo and Riyadh immediately for comment were unsuccessful.
(Reporting by Gram Slattery; Editing by Ross Colvin and Mark Porter)
