Bethlehem, Palestine 23 May (ANA) - US President Donald Trump has said he will "do everything" to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace. In a meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, he spoke of being gratified that the Palestinian leader was ready to confront terrorism. Israel and the Palestinians have not held direct talks for more than three years and Mr Trump has acknowledged it was "one of the toughest deals of all". This is the last day of the US president's visit to the Middle East. But in both the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinians have held angry protests against the visit. On Monday, Mr Trump stressed the strong bonds between the US and Israel. Mr Trump said he had come to Bethlehem, where the talks with Mr Abbas were held, "in a spirit of hope". "I am committed to trying to achieve a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians," he said. "And I intend to do everything I can to help them achieve that goal. "I look forward to working with these leaders for lasting peace." He said that President Abbas had assured him he was ready to work in good faith towards that goal. Mr Abbas said he welcomed Mr Trump's "noble and possible mission", and that he was ready to be his partner in the quest for peace. The US president began his statement with a condemnation of Monday evening's attack at a concert in Manchester, UK. "So many young, beautiful, innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered by evil losers in life," he said. Later on Tuesday Mr Trump will return to Jerusalem to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and make a speech at the Israel Museum. The two-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories forms part of Mr Trump's first foreign trip as US president.(ANA)

FA/ANA/23 May 2017------