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UNITED NATIONS – President Trump has declared that he supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in a change from his previous position, and has promised to present his long-awaited peace plan in the next four years. month.
Trump, speaking before a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has already said he would support one or two states, regardless of the choice of the two sides.
On Wednesday, he changed tactics. His support for the concept, which has underpinned the efforts of US administrations for decades, is the most concrete detail available on his administration's peace plan.
"I like the two-state solution," Trump told reporters Wednesday alongside Netanyahu. "That's what I think works best." He turned to the Israeli leader and added, "You may have a different feeling. I do not think so.
Mr. Trump said he hoped to have something in the next two or three months, adding, "I really believe something will happen. My dream is to be able to do it before the end of my first term. "
Mr. Trump's comments forced Mr. Netanyahu to be more specific about his own position on two states. After approving two states in 2009, he has since tried to keep his position vague.
Netanyahu said in a briefing with reporters that he would support a Palestinian state, but should be under the control of Israeli security. "I am willing that the Palestinians have the power to govern themselves without being allowed to harm us," Netanyahu said, adding, "I am sure that any US peace plan will largely reflect this principle, perhaps even entirely. "
Palestinian leaders say the Trump administration is not an honest peace mediator, saying it is biased towards Israel. They have refused contact with the Trump administration since December, when Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and announced that the United States would move there, a city the Palestinians claim as their future capital.
Since then, the United States has taken a series of punitive measures to pressure the Palestinians to resume talks, including cutting bilateral aid by $ 250 million by cutting aid to the United States. Palestinian refugee agency and closing the office of the Organization in Washington.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday cited these actions and rejected the United States as the mediator of the conflict. "It has become important to convene an international peace conference that would lead to the formation of an international mechanism to sponsor the peace process," he said, according to the official Palestinian news agency.
Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner, chief negotiator Jason Greenblatt and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman have been developing a plan for more than a year. But they did not reveal any details.
US officials said the plan is almost complete and includes political and economic components. The schedule of Israeli elections, scheduled at some point in the coming year, will be an important consideration.
Naftali Bennett, a frequent challenger to Netanyahu on his right and the education minister, criticized Trump's support for two states, saying that as long as his Jewish-born party would be part of M's coalition. Netanyahu, Palestinian state, which would be a disaster for Israel. "
The comments come a day before what should be dueling speeches in the United States by Netanyahu and Abbas, who will speak first.
An Israeli official said Netanyahu had requested a meeting with Abbas on the sidelines of the UK, but the Palestinians refused to meet. A US official said the Palestinians did not accept the Trump administration's requests to meet on the sidelines of the US General Assembly.
Nevertheless, Mr Trump said Wednesday that he thought Palestinians would end up talking to the United States about his peace plan.
"They want to come back to the table," he said.
Write to Felicia Schwartz to [email protected]
