Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 U.S. NEWS
Friday 1 december 2017

Britain PM May courts key Arab ally on Mideast trip

By KARIN LAUB ain has licensed over $6.1
Associated Press billion worth of arms sales
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — to the kingdom since the
Britain is making a “new, war began.
ambitious and optimistic Turning to the Israeli-Pal-
offer” of closer security and estinian conflict, May said
economic ties with Arab that while incitement to
allies, the country’s prime violence and denial of Isra-
minister said Thursday, the el’s right to exist must stop,
last day of a Mideast trip “those actions of the Israeli
meant to bolster ties with government which create
the region before the U.K. an obstacle to peace —
leaves the European Union. not least illegal settlement
Theresa May pledged tens construction — must also
of millions of pounds in ad- stop.”
ditional aid, singling out May’s three-day trip to Sau-
Jordan, and said Britain di Arabia, Iraq and Jordan
would negotiate a post- was overshadowed by a
Brexit trade deal with the row with President Donald
pro-Western kingdom. Trump, over his stoking of
In a wide-ranging foreign anti-Islam sentiments.
policy speech in Jordan’s In Thursday’s speech, she
capital, May also ad- Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May meets with Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the royal palace in said Trump’s retweets of
dressed the wars in Yemen Amman on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. inflammatory anti-Muslim
and Syria, and the long- (Khalil Mazraawi/Pool photo via AP) videos by a “hateful” far-
running Israeli-Palestinian of the war-stricken country rebel missile launch toward needed to be taken as a right British political group
conflict. which has teetered on the the Saudi capital. matter of urgency to ad- were “the wrong thing to
May called on a Saudi- brink of famine. The British leader said that dress this.” do.”
led coalition fighting Shiite The coalition tightened in talks with Saudi Arabia’s May has faced increas- But May dug in her heels
Houthi rebels in Yemen to the blockade earlier this crown prince Wednesday, ing calls to stop British arms over mounting calls to can-
lift a sea and air blockade month, in response to a “we agreed that steps sales to Saudi Arabia. Brit- cel Trump’s planned state
Germany: visit to Britain. She said the
visit was still on — though
Merkel, rival meet president amid impasse she suggested it was not
imminent.
“An invitation for a state
BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s agreed to meet at Ger- ry talks. agreement. visit has been extended
president brought together many’s presidential palace Merkel this week said she Even if the two sides do and has been accepted,”
Chancellor Angela Merkel to explore the possibility of hoped to talk with the So- agree to continue, they’ll she said. “We have yet to
and the leader of the cen- forming a so-called grand cial Democrats “in a seri- first have to negotiate the set a date.
ter-left Social Democrats, coalition like the one that ous, engaged, honest way prerequisites for coalition May’s speech came after
Martin Schulz, on Thursday makes up the outgoing and obviously with the in- talks, then carry out the a meeting with Jordan’s
night with the aim of break- government. tention of success.” coalition talks themselves, King Abdullah II, seen as
ing the impasse over the Schultz had initially refused Schulz sounded more skep- meaning it will likely be sev- a leading champion of
formation of a new govern- to consider another “grand tical, however, saying the eral months before a new religious tolerance and a
ment. coalition” with Merkel af- talks hosted by Steinmeier government is formed. partner in the campaign
President Frank-Walter ter a disastrous showing of would be about “if and in If Merkel can’t put together against Islamic militants.
Steinmeier called the party the Social Democrats in the which form” they would a coalition, the only options The British leader reassured
leaders together after talks election on Sept. 24, say- continue discussions and would be a minority gov- Arab allies that her country
between Merkel’s conser- ing the Social Democrats “if it even makes sense to ernment or a new election. would remain engaged in
vative bloc and two smaller needed to go into opposi- continue to talk with one Meantime, she continues the region in a post-Brexit
parties to form a previously tion. But he reversed course another.” to head a caretaker gov- era, saying that “we are
untried coalition collapsed. after Steinmeier’s appeal, He added that his party ernment made up of her making a new, ambitious
Schulz, Merkel and her Ba- and said his party is now members would have to conservatives and the So- and optimistic offer of part-
varian ally Horst Seehofer open to holding explorato- have a final say over any cial Democrats.q nership.” q