The upcoming conference to roll out the long-awaited American peace plan will not have Israeli or Palestinian officials in attendance because of Ramallah's boycott of the administration, President Donald Trump's Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt said on Monday.
Speaking with i24NEWS, he emphasized the nature of the "workshop" as apolitical. Greenblatt confirmed that since the Palestinian Authority has chosen to boycott the peace plan even before it was officially released, Israeli government officials would not be invited either, nor would other world leaders or foreign ministers.
"Without the Palestinian Authority there, having the Israeli government there makes it more political," he told i24NEWS, though he said Israeli business people would be represented there.
The Mideast envoy reiterated that it was a "huge missed opportunity" for the Palestinians not to attend, but said the current focus is on attracting investors and looking for donors to build up the Palestinian economy while garnering feedback.
"This is not just an economic peace. It is not about buying Palestinians off," he said, adding that the second phase of the peace plan would deal with the political issues.
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The Trump administration will decide when to release the peace plan following the Bahrain summit, Greenblatt said, suggesting that it would be around November due to the Israeli election on Sept. 17.
Trump's adviser did not convey discontent over the delay, arguing that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was not the core of the conflict in the region, saying Iran was the main problem.
Asked whether the Trump administration would allow for negotiations once the deal is presented, Greenblatt assured that it would be flexible.
"There is no such thing as a take it or leave it deal," he said.
Greenblatt will speak at the Israel Hayom Forum for US-Israel Relations next week in Jerusalem along with US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.
This article was originally published by i24NEWS.
