Saudi crown prince 'offered Abbas $10 billion' to accept 'Deal of the Century'

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was offered $10 billion by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to accept Washington's still-secret Israel-Palestine peace deal, - known as the "Deal of the Century" - according to Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar.

Khaled al-Shawabkeh, the Jordanian envoy to Ramallah, allegedly sent a letter from the Jordanian embassy in Ramallah to the ministry of foreign affairs and emigrants in Amman, obtained by Al-Akhbar, describe meetings that took place between the crown prince and Abbas.

The report's most controversial point describe bin Salman offering Abbas $10 billion over ten years to accept the "Deal of the Century.

The reports vary in dates and span 2017 to 2018. In one, Shawabkeh writes that bin Salman told Abbas the US is prepared to give the Palestinians "the land on which they live", adding that Washington asked Saudi Arabia and other countries to provide financial support to the Palestinians.

"Saudi Arabia will in principle support the Authority with amounts of more than four million dollars," bin Salman told Abbas according to the report seen by al-Akhbar.

In a report from Shawabkeh to the ministry in Amman dated January 1 2018, he said he learned about Abbas's recent visit to Saudi Arabia. "The Palestinian president was presented with things which he refused to talk about but which bothered him," he wrote.

According to the report, ten million dollars was offered to "improve the situation" in the West Bank, the status and resettlement of refugees, and unlimited financial and political support after the decision.

According to information obtained by the Al-Akhbar, bin Salman shared details of the "Deal of the Century" with Abbas, and asked him to accept the deal. Bin Salman asked Abbas about the budget of his entourage, to which Abbas replied: "I'm not a prince. I don't have an entourage."

Bin Salman then said: "How much does the Palestinian Authority, its ministers and employees, need?" Abbas replied $1 billion. The crown prince then offered $10 billion over ten years if Abbas agreed to the deal.

Abbas rejected the offer, saying it would be the end of his political career, according to Al-Akhbar.

Trump's Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt denied rumours last week that the peace plan will include a union between Palestine and Jordan.

The full details of the plan will be revealed at the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in June, Jared Kushner, son-in-law and senior advisor to President Trump, announced earlier this month.

The New Arab approached the Palestinian mission in London for comment.

Agencies contributed to this report.

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