U.S. Envoy Greenblatt engages in flame war with PA official

US Envoy Jason Greenblatt defended the value of social media and slammed PA official Hanan Ashrawi after she said that "those who think they're transmitting knowledge...via Twitter are 'engaged' only is self deception."

The instant gratification of a tweet can never be a substitute for a serious engagement in search of genuine solutions. Those who think they’re transmitting knowledge, political solutions or negotiating positions via Twitter are “engaged” only in self deception.

— Hanan Ashrawi (@DrHananAshrawi) February 2, 2019

Greenblatt wrote in response that his door "is always open to the PA and Palestinians to speak," further stating he met many Palestinians in the past 14 months and is still meeting them. Greenblatt extended an invitation to Ashrawi to meet with him at the White House.

Dr. Ashrawi- my door is always open to the PA & Palestinians to speak. In fact, I’ve met many Palestinians over the past 14 months & continue to. I’m happy to meet anytime- you, Saeb & all your colleagues are ALWAYS welcome to visit me at the @WhiteHouse to speak in person. https://t.co/JTKi6Uq3uL

— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) February 3, 2019

Currently, PA officials refuse to meet US officials following the decision by US President Donald Trump to move the American embassy to Jerusalem, a decision met with great anger by Palestinians and many people in the Arab and Islamic world. Trump himself is known for being highly proficient on Rwitter, and in the past used that social media to slam North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, address issues such as US-Russian relations and engage his voters in issues he sees as important, such as the project of building a wall on the US-Mexican border. "The instant gratification of a tweet can never be a substitute for a serious engagement in search of genuine solutions," Ashrawi wrote.Greenblatt defended the medium by saying that "the only difference now is that we are speaking about these matters in public via twitter so the public can understand everyone’s positions."

And who says the U.S. and the P.A. aren’t talking? The only difference now is that we are speaking about these matters in public via twitter so the public can understand everyone’s positions. Transparency is better for all.

— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) February 1, 2019

"Transparency is better for all," he concluded.