'We've tried to do it a bit differently,' Trump's senior adviser says of imminent peace plan, which requires 'tough compromises,' aims to 'make lives of Palestinians better'

PA president urges Arab states to help the Palestinians overcome a major budgetary shortfall; says US-Palestinian security cooperation is ongoing despite aid cut

Gérard Araud, a former ambassador to Israel, says he's 'very close' with Jared Kushner, whom he describes as 'extremely smart but has no guts'

Jason Greenblatt says each side understands the term differently, warns both Israelis and Palestinians against rejecting 'deal of the century'

Social media posts show video of purported plan to create Palestinian state in Gaza and parts of the Egyptian-ruled peninsula; actual plan expected to be launched in June

Responding to Jason Greenblatt's criticism, Mohammad Shtayyeh says any initiative must call for ending occupation and establishing sovereign Palestinian state

US president's senior adviser Jared Kushner said to tell diplomats in Washington to keep 'open mind' over long-awaited, much-maligned proposal

In interview, Mohammad Shtayyeh accuses US of waging 'financial war' on Palestinians in bid to force them to surrender and accept a deal that does not include an independent state

US officials highlight economic benefits of proposal, acknowledge that any initiative that ignores political aspirations is doomed to fail, the Washington Post reports

Letter signed by 37 high-ranking ex-officials comes after election promise by Netanyahu to extend Israeli law over West Bank settlements