President Trump now says that the US is not committed to the two-state Israel-Palestine solution

President Trump now says that the US is not committed to the two-state Israel-Palestine solution

www.darkpolitricks.com


Speaking at press conference with Benjamin Netanyahu, US president says he is looking at multiple options for peace

In an apparent break with two decades of US commitment to closely shepherding the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Donald Trump has said he was unconcerned whether an eventual deal involved the creation of a Palestinian state or a single state.

“So I’m looking at two states and one state,” Trump said at a joint press conference with the visiting Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. “And I like the one that both parties like. I’m very happy with the one that both parties like.”

Trump’s remarks appeared to dismantle one of the key pillars of the US-led peace efforts since before the signing of the Oslo accords, which envisioned the creation of a Palestinian state alongside the Jewish one.

“The United States will encourage peace and really a great peace deal,” the US president said. “We will be working on it very, very diligently. But it is the parties themselves who must directly negotiate such an agreement.”

“To be honest, if Bibi [Netanyahu] and the Palestinians, if Israel and the Palestinians are happy - I’m happy with the one they like the best.”

The comments appeared to suggest that while the US would assist in any negotiations, it would not lead them as it has done previously, leaving the core talks – moribund since 2014 – to the two sides.

Trump was confirming remarks made late on Tuesday by a White House official who said the US was looking at multiple options for a peace deal. Those remarks prompted an angry response from the Palestinians, who were caught by surprise.

Calling on the wider international community to “stand shoulder to shoulder” with Palestinians to protect the two-state solution, Saeb Erekat, senior Palestinian negotiator, warned that undermining the long-standing strategy was no joke.

“We want to tell those who want to bury and destroy the two-state solution that the real alternative to a Palestinian state living alongside an Israeli one on the 1967 lines is a democratic, secular state where Jews, Christians and Muslims can live together,” he said. “I believe undermining the two-state solution is not a joke and that would be a disaster and tragedy for Israelis and Palestinians.”

Asked about settlement building at the press conference, Trump addressed Netanyahu and said: “I would like to see you hold back for a little bit.”

The Israeli government has said it plans to build approximately 6,000 Jewish settlement housing units in the West Bank, signalling a surge in planned construction since Trump was sworn in as president in January.

Trump also addressed questions about moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. “As far as the embassy moving to Jerusalem, I’d love to see that happen,” he said.

“And we’re looking at it very, very strongly. We’re looking at it with a great care, a great care, believe me. And we’ll see what happens.”

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