Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict after meeting Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday, but gave scant detail about how he planned to bring the parties to the table.

In a speech heralded as the highlight of his visit, the US president also refrained from recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital or announcing a move of the US embassy to the city — two things Israelis had called for. Nor did he provide any details or agenda for achieving his promise to pursue Israeli-Palestinian peace. 

“I can tell you the Palestinians are ready to reach for peace,” Mr Trump said in a speech at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. “I know you have heard it before, and I am telling you again — that’s what I do — they are reaching for peace.”