President Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Jason Greenblatt, met Tuesday with Prime Minister Netanyahu, as well as with author Yossi Klein Halevi, in order to hear his advice on the attempts to jumpstart peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Greenblatt tweeted that he appreciated Klein's perspective on peace as well as his insights and time.
"The Jewish Insider" internet site asked Klein Halevi about the content of his conversation with Greenblatt. Klein Halevi said he had advised Greenblatt to try and mediate between the sides for an interim agreement and not try to achieve a final status agreeement which is "untenable in the near future."
"I also said that the Palestinian leadership does not have much to offer Israel - or there isn't much that it is prepared to offer - and that it is plausible that the payback Israel will receive for territorial compromises will come in the form of normalization with our Arab neighbors."
Klein Halevi praised Greenblatt's approach to the region, stating that he is "an excellent listener. At this stage he has come to listen more than to talk. After years of hearing lectures from the Obama, this is a refreshing change."