Environment Minister and Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Zeev Elkin (Likud) responded Sunday to President Trump's statement that he had decided to 'give peace a shot' and to defer his transfer of the US embassy to Jerusalem
Elkin said that "I'm truly sorry that President Trump has delayed implementing his campaign promise to move the US embassy to Jerusalem due to a misconception that the present Palestinian leadership could promote peace.
"Anybody who sees the constant incitement of the PA, the refusal of Mahmoud Abbas to cease paying salaries to terrorists, the election of a terrorist with blood on his hands to the position of mayor of the largest Arab town in the PA and recently, the warm embrace and reconciliation with Hamas terrorists realizes that the last thing we can expect from Mahmoud Abbas and his henchmen is promotion of peace."
President Trump had said Saturday night in an interview with former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee on the TBN program “Huckabee,” that his administration was working on a plan for peace between the two sides.
“I want to give that a shot before I even think about moving the embassy to Jerusalem,” he said.
“If we can make peace between the Palestinians and Israel, I think it’ll lead to ultimately peace in the Middle East, which has to happen,” he said.
Asked if there was a time frame for the embassy move, Trump said: “We’re going to make a decision in the not too distant future.”