The Palestinians were sure all was lost. All the promises of an American diplomatic initiative on the part of President Donald Trump for a viable solution to the conflict that no one before him had managed to resolve seemed to have gone down the drain. It appeared the dream of a Palestinian state would not come true in the period of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ term. But something happened on Abbas’ way to New York to address the UN General Assembly on Sept. 20. Trump’s Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt indicated to him that the president would meet with him during the General Assembly session and might bring a positive message.

Trump’s message and also a private meeting with him shortly before Abbas’ UN address may have changed something in the speech, which was prepared ahead of time. Nonetheless, Abbas still sounded grim. On the other hand, Palestinian sources now express cautious optimism.

As mentioned, the two leaders met just hours before Abbas’ speech. Trump asked the Palestinian leader to be patient a while longer because Greenblatt and senior White House adviser Jared Kushner were putting the final touches on the diplomatic initiative that has been discussed since Trump took office in January. Trump urged Abbas not to make hasty, unilateral moves that would hamper diplomatic progress, such as applying for membership in UN committees, until the American plan could be unveiled.

“It was a good talk, perhaps the best President Abbas has had with Trump,” a top Palestinian source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. According to the source, although the conversation on the sidelines of the General Assembly was short, lasting less than 30 minutes, Abbas was persuaded to give the American channel a chance.