Ever since US President Donald Trump called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the phone on March 10, euphoria has prevailed within the top brass in Ramallah. “If Netanyahu ‘heard’ the conversation between Trump and Abbas, he didn’t sleep well that night,” Knesset member Ahmad Tibi (Arab Joint List) tweeted. And Tibi, as we know, enjoys a very close relationship with Abbas.

Palestinians had little hope from Trump, especially in light of the many publications over the wonderful friendship between the president and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But perhaps this lack of expectation is exactly the reason why cautious optimism registers now in the Palestinian Authority (PA) Ramallah headquarters.

Trump repeated at least three times in the course of the conversation that what he wants is to achieve a “deal” between Israel and the Palestinians. He personally complimented Abbas and the Palestinian people as well. Trump made it clear that he is not biased to either side and has no prior prejudices, thus instilling hope in the elderly Palestinian leader.

A senior diplomatic source told Al-Monitor that Trump did not utter the words “two-state solution” in the course of the phone call. However, Trump’s various assistants and emissaries made it clear, in their contacts with the Palestinians, that Trump has no other card on his table other than the two-state solution, period.