President Donald Trump thanked Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for “all of the time, all of the meetings, all of the work” he has put in. | Evan Vucci/AP Trump: I’ll ‘devote everything within my heart’ for Mideast peace deal

President Donald Trump on Wednesday pledged to devote everything within his heart and soul to strike a peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East.

“We’re looking seriously at peace and maybe ultimately peace in the whole of the Middle East. I think we have a pretty good shot — maybe the best shot ever — and that’s what we’re looking to do,” the president said Wednesday morning ahead of a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.


Trump thanked Abbas for “all of the time, all of the meetings, all of the work” he has put in.

“It’s a complex subject. Always been considered the toughest deal of all,” Trump said. “Peace between the Israel and the Palestinians, the toughest of all. But I think we have a very, very good chance, and I certainly will devote everything within my heart and within my soul to get that deal made.”

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The president said the U.S. and Palestinians have “expert” teams and insisted “Israel is working very hard toward the same goal,” as is Saudi Arabia and others.

“So we’ll see if we can put it together,” Trump concluded. “Who knows? Stranger things have happened, but I think we have a good chance.”

After Abbas addressed reporters, Trump returned to the topic of peace, remarking that he has heard about the prospect since he was a child. He said his administration is fighting and trying “very hard” but didn’t project confidence that the Israelis and Palestinians would reach an agreement during Trump’s term.

“We’re going to see what we can do. There will be no promises,” Trump said. “If we can do it, it would be a great, great legacy for everybody. So let’s see what happens. Good luck, everybody. Good luck. Millions of people rooting for you. That I can tell you.”

