(1) While the @nytimes report about the supposed deal offered by Saudi Crown Prince to Palestinian leader Abbas might be true, there are a few holes which make me question its precision.
(2) Hamas West Bank official Hassan Yousef should not be considered a valid source for what's happening between Abbas's inner circle and Saudi Arabia. It's like asking Elizabeth Warren about Trump's inner circle.
(3) The only other on-the-record source is Ahmad Tibi, but there are no quotes from him. And he said this on Twitter this morning: 'Abu dees as a palestinian capital is fake news and bad joke. Nobody mentiond that to PA'
(4) Why all these anonymous quotes from Lebanese officials? Abbas is much closer with Jordan and Egypt, two countries more involved in the peace process. Why would Lebanese officials know anything? This at least deserves an explanation.
(5) The label of senior Fatah official should be taken with a grain of salt. Many Fatah officials, even those who are senior in the party, know little about Abbas's dealings. Only those in Abbas's inner circle know what's happening. Most were in the room in Riyadh with MBS.
(6) Bottom-line: no one with 1st-hand knowledge of the meeting between Abbas and MBS has confirmed the supposed US-Saudi offer.
(8) .@Ahmad_tibi denies @nytimes report about Saudi proposal to Abbas.
Says he told reporter that US 'officials threw ideas out that Palestinian leadership could never accept, such as no full sovereignty, dismantle settlements or ending occupation'
Not that it was a real plan
Says he told reporter that US 'officials threw ideas out that Palestinian leadership could never accept, such as no full sovereignty, dismantle settlements or ending occupation'
Not that it was a real plan
