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UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he wanted a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the clearest expression of his administration's support for such a result.
The Trump administration has stated in the past that it would support a two-state solution if both parties were in agreement.
Trump also said at a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the UN General Assembly that he wanted to unveil a peace plan in the next two or three months.
"I like a two-state solution. That's what I think works best … It's my feeling, "said Trump.
Netanyahu said any future Palestinian state must be demilitarized and must recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people – conditions that the Palestinians say show that it is not sincere about the re-establishment of the peace.
The Arab allies of the United States are powerful supporters of a two-state solution.
Trump said at a press conference in New York later Wednesday that he would be open to a one-state solution if that was the preference of the parties themselves, a position he had previously expressed.
"If Israelis and Palestinians want one state, it's good with me. If they want two states, that's fine with me, "he said. "I am happy if they are happy."
Doubts have arisen as to whether the Trump administration could get what it calls the ultimate deal since December, when the US president recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and then moved the US embassy there. .
Trump said, "I dream of finding an agreement before the end of his term in early 2021.
"I do not want to do it in my second term. We will do other things during my second term, "he said. "I think a lot of progress has been made."
& # 39; NOT ENOUGH & # 39;
Netanyahu said after meeting with Trump that he was "not surprised" by the US president's preference for a two-state solution for peace with the Palestinians, Israeli media reported.
Jerusalem is one of the major problems of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both parties claim it as their capital. Trump's decision outraged Palestinians, who have since boycotted Washington's peace efforts, led by Trump's son-in-law and advisor, Jared Kushner.
Palestinians want to establish a state in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. Israel conquered these territories during the 1967 Middle East War and annexed East Jerusalem to an internationally unrecognized movement. She considers the whole city as her eternal and indivisible capital.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said Trump's broad commitment to a two-state solution was not enough.
"It must spell out clearly … the two states (based on 67 borders), that East Jerusalem is an occupied territory. These issues are very important to us so that we can really move forward, "Maliki said in New York after meeting with representatives from dozens of countries on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders.
US officials did not attend this meeting.
Asked to engage with the United States in the publication of his peace plan, Maliki said, "Not at all."
"As long as he respects his decisions regarding Jerusalem, the settlements and the embassy move, there is no way," he said.
Trump, asked what Israel might have to give up in exchange for the embassy's move to Jerusalem, replied: "I've probably taken the biggest chip out of the table. And so, obviously, we have to make a fair deal, we have to do something. The offers must be good for both parties … Israel got the first chip and it's a big one.
Report by Steve Holland and Yara Bayoumy; Additional report by Michelle Nichols and Arshad Mohammed at the United Nations, Ali Sawafta at RAMALLAH and Ori Lewis in JERUSALEM; Written by Yara Bayoumy; Edited by James Dalgleish, Grant McCool and Paul Tait
