TRUMP PEACE ENVOY CALLS FOR THE PA TO RE-TAKE CONTROL OF GAZA:

Hamas has failed as governors of the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian Authority should take over according to President Donald Trump’s foreign negotiations chief. Jason Greenblatt, one of the trio of Israeli-Palestinian negotiators headed by Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, remained in Israel after the official visit by the team last week. On 30 Aug. 2017, Greenblatt toured the Israeli side of the Gaza border and concluded that "the Palestinian Authority needs to resume its role in the administration of Gaza, as Hamas has substantially harmed the people of Gaza and has failed to meet their most basic needs.” The PA did control Gaza until Hamas violently took control away from the PA and Fatah in 2007. Greenblatt’s comment was the first by a senior USA official affirmatively calling for the PA to take control.

Visiting UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also viewed the Israeli side of the border but via helicopter. During the helicopter trip from Jerusalem to Gaza, Guterres received a special briefing on security issues in southern Israel. He then visited a Hamas terror tunnel and met with residents of the border communities."Hamas continues to arm itself in order to harm Israel as it exploits the generous humanitarian aid provided by the international community,” Ambassador Danon told the Secretary General. "Hamas has turned the residents of Gaza into hostages and is investing its resources into digging murderous terror tunnels. At the same time, the Israeli residents of the border communities have stood strong in the face of terror threats, as they build prosperous communities and help further develop the region for the betterment of the next generation.” (Medialine/INN)