Blankfort begins with welcoming the release from prison of Chelsea Manning and Puerto Rican Independence hero, Oscar Lopez Rivera and recounts the background of the Puerto Rican independence movement and his 36 years in prison. He then reports on 30th day of Palestinian prisonersâ hunger strike and Israelâs unsuccessful efforts to undermine strike with video of strike leader Marwan Barghouti appearing to be eating a candy bar.
He then reports on Abbasâ meeting with Trump but more importantly, his meeting with Israeli journalists and businessmen committing the Palestinian Authority to maintain its security relationship with Israel that is, suppressing Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation, no matter what. He follows that with comment by Israel lobbyist Martin Indyk praising the PAâs collaboration with Israel.
He then cites Abbasâs praise for the Oslo accords which he negotiated and his incomprehension of why anyone would oppose it followed by a quote from Israeli Oslo negotiator, Shlomo Gazit, who comparing it to the Munich agreement which allowed Hitler to take the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia by saying the Israelis were the Germans and the Palestinians the Czechs.
He then switches to controversy over who has sovereignty over Jerusalemâs Western Wall with US officials in Jerusalem and National Security Adviser HR McMaster taking a different position than the White House which leaves Trumpâs planned visit to the wall up in the air.
He notes that the Saudis will welcome Trump before he visits Israel with a $40 billion gift to rebuild US infrastructure. He also notes that Gulf States ready to recognize Israel and allow overflights should Netanyahu make any gesture for peace with the Palestinians.
Finally, he reports that AIPAC is stronger than ever, getting all 100 senators to sign a letter to the UN to have it go easy on Israel.
He concludes with comment that what Lobby thinks about Trump will determine whether he goes or stays.