Top Member of Netanyahu’s Likud Party: Peace Talks Not Opportune While Palestinians Want to Destroy Israel

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The Times of Israel reports: A top Likud minister on Sunday downplayed the prospects of resuming peace talks with the Palestinians, ahead of an anticipated peace push during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Israel later this month.

“In the current era, there is no point in talking about peace,” Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan told Army Radio, adding that “our neighbors have not yet abandoned the idea that the State of Israel as a Jewish state will disappear from the map.”

“There are those in the nationalist camp who had too many expectations from President Trump — I didn’t have such [expectations],” he added. Erdan was apparently referring to growing concern in the Israeli right that Trump is intent on pursuing regional peace, while reinstating Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the center of the diplomatic stage. His comments came days after US National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster told reporters during a daily press briefing in Washington that Trump will work toward a “just and lasting peace” between Israel and the Palestinians on his upcoming trip to the region.

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