Secret CIA visit to Ramallah – one day after ‘deal of the century’ debut

CIA Director Gina Cheri Haspel paid a secret visit to Ramallah one day after US President Donald Trump presented the “deal of the century” peace plan, reports said.

According to Kan, Haspel met senior Palestinian Authority (PA) officials, and was told of the PA threat to cut security ties with both Israel and the US.

Haspel did not meet with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas during her visit, but with his intelligence director, Majid Faraj. According to PA sources, Haspel also met with Israeli officials during her trip.

Meanwhile, in a Saturday meeting in Cairo, the Arab League rejected the US plan, calling on Arab League members not to cooperate with it, since the League sees the basis of peace as a two-state solution reached via negotiations and including the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria, according to the pre-1967 borders and with “east” Jerusalem as its capital.

The Arab League also warned Israel not to unilaterally implement the “deal of the century.”

Earlier Saturday, senior US official told Channel 13‘s Barak Ravid that the Arab League needs to “try a new approach” to better the lives of Palestinian Authority and Gaza Arabs.

“Past Arab League resolutions have placated Palestinian leadership and not led to peace or progress and it is important to try a new approach or the Palestinian people’s fate will not change,” the official said.

“It is only by having a wiliness to try a new approach that we will make a breakthrough in a conflict that has left the Palestinian people to suffer for decades.”