In normal times, persistent pressure and the combined use of carrots and sticks generally softens most political leaders. But when dealing with a decades-long conflict like the Palestinian-Israeli one and with a stubborn leader like President Mahmoud Abbas, pressure often produces the opposite results.

The Palestinian leader’s position appears to have surprised the US president and his inner circle. Speaking to reporters Sept. 16, President Donald Trump revealed his financial pressure tactics toward the Palestinians. He bragged about his cutting off $750 million of annual support to Palestinians while pressuring Arab countries to follow suit.

“I stopped funding the Palestinians fairly early on, because they were saying bad things about our country. So, I stopped funding them very early on. I think, ultimately, the Palestinians are going to come in,” Trump said in a White House briefing. 

Trump claimed that the two Gulf countries that have normalized relations with Israel will stop funding the Palestinians. However, UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri hinted that instead of cutting off aid, the United Arab Emirates is considering investing in both Israel and the Palestinian territories, saying that the UAE and Israel are planning to include some Palestinian areas in their bilateral economic engagements.