WASHINGTON, March 11, 2017 (WAFA) - Chief Representative of the General Delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to the United States, Maen Rashid Areikat, welcomed on Saturday the telephone conversation that took place between President Mahmoud Abbas and his US counterpart Donald Trump expressing hope it will lead to constructive engagement between them.

Trump telephoned Abbas on Friday evening Jerusalem time, the first between them since Trump took office on January 20, during which the two leaders discussed resumption of the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace talks with Trump stressing his commitment to a peace process that leads to true peace between the Palestinians and Israelis, according to Abbas’ spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh.

"We hope that this conversation will signal the start of a constructive and fruitful engagement between the two sides,” said Ambassador Areikat in a statement from Washington.

“The Palestinian side stands ready to work with the United States to advance the cause of a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East that would lead to an end to the Israeli military occupation and the creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State that lives side-by-side with Israel in peace and security," he said.

"The role of the United States, in conjunction with the efforts of the international community, is important to reach an acceptable agreement between Israelis and Palestinians based on United Nations resolutions, international law, and previous agreements," concluded Areikat.

M.K.