Greenblatt and Major General Yoav Mordechai
Greenblatt and Major General Yoav MordechaiSpokesperson of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Jason Greenblatt, will visit the crossings between Israel and Gaza on Wednesday and observe the actions there firsthand.

The visit is a continuation of the tour that Greenblatt held on Tuesday with the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Major General Yoav Mordechai. The two toured the Gilboa crossing (Jalame) and discussed the necessary investments to help strengthen economic relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA), in order to create a convenient platform for the possible resumption of diplomatic contacts.

Greenblatt expressed his satisfaction with the attempts of both sides to act to ease trade relations.

During the tour, Maj. Gen. Mordechai reviewed the security, economic and civilian situation in northern Samaria as well as the Israeli initiatives to improve the economic situation and quality of life of the residents of Samaria.

He stressed that "the security situation and the security and civilian coordination are the basis for any cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Israel promotes projects and initiatives to encourage Palestinian economic development and to strengthen regional stability.”

An American official told Arutz Sheva following Tuesday’s tour that "Greenblatt is examining the best ways to create economic cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians, not only in Ramallah but also in Gaza. The goal of these steps is to create trust between the parties that can lead to negotiations."

Greenblatt also met on Tuesday with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is visiting Israel, and explained that it is preferable at this stage not to initiate an active move to renew talks between Israel and the PA.

He noted that the Americans are gradually building a plan to create cooperation that will bring the parties close to each other and added that at the moment there is a mutual concern and skepticism, for which the right solution must be found.

Greenblatt on Tuesday also toured the Ziv Hospital in Tzfat Tuesday, where he met with administrators, health care professionals and Syrian patients who are treated at the hospital as part of Operation Good Neighbor.