President Trump directly called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to curtail Jewish home building in the West Bank, as he predicted that he can help broker an end to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“I’d like to see you hold back on settlements for a little bit,” Trump said as he welcomed Netanyahu to the White House for their first meeting since the Republican president took office. “We’ll work something out,” he added.
In his most extensive remarks as president about the chances for peace in the Middle East, Trump said he “could live with” either a separate Palestinian state or a unitary state as a peaceful outcome.
“I want the one that both parties want,” he said.
[Trump says he really wants Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, warns both sides to ‘act reasonably’]
That is a significant departure from past U.S. policy supporting the goal of an independent Palestine alongside Israel. Both Republican and Democratic presidents have backed a future Palestine on West Bank land that is now mostly under Israeli military occupation.
“I would like to see a deal be made. I think a deal will be made,” Trump said. “I know that every president would like to. Most of them have not started until late, because they never thought it was possible, and it wasn’t possible because they didn’t do it.”
“But Bibi and I have known each other a long time,” Trump continued, using the Israeli leader’s nickname. “Smart man. Great negotiator. And I think we’re going to make a deal. It might be a bigger and better deal than people in this room even understand, so that’s a possibility.”
Then, with his body turned toward Netanyahu, Trump put him on the spot.
“So let’s see what we do,” Trump invited.
“Let’s try,” Netanyahu replied.
He did not look pleased, but Trump laughed it off.
“That doesn’t sound too optimistic,” Trump said. “Good negotiator.”
At that, Netanyahu brightened.
“That’s the art of the deal,” he said to laughter.
Both leaders seemed to indicate that what was once an accepted formula of two states — one Israeli and one Palestinian — is now open to new ideas and a broadening of scope in what could bring about a peace deal.
“I want to deal with substance, not labels. The world is fixated on labels and not on the substance,” Netanyahu said.
He said that first the Palestinians must recognize Israel as the Jewish state and stop calling for its destruction and also allow Israel to retain security of the western banks of the Jordan river, a sliver of land that would allow Israel to encircle any future Palestinian state.
“We need to look for new ideas,” Netanyahu said.
Both leaders indicated that a regional approach that would involve a broad spectrum of Middle Eastern states and by default, eventually, the Palestinians.
“But if anyone believes that I, as prime minister of Israel, responsible for the security of my country, would blindly walk into a Palestinian terrorist state that seeks the destruction of my country, they’re gravely mistaken,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu’s caution stems partly from his skepticism about a peace deal and partly from political pressure at home. The Israeli political far right, elements of which Netanyahu needs as part of his governing coalition, reportedly urged him to make no concessions in Washington and not to even utter the words “two-state solution.”
[Netanyahu is urged not to use the words ‘Palestinian state’ when he visits Trump]
The news conference, part of a nearly day-long White House visit, was the public face of a new chapter in U.S.-Israeli relations after the testiness and rancor of Netanyahu’s dealings with former president Barack Obama. But there were hints of potential problems for Trump and Netanyahu, too, despite their friendship and Trump’s fiercely pro-Israel stance.
Trump’s insistence that a deal can be done, and his suggestion that he will move quickly to seek one, puts Netanyahu in the middle, between a powerful political constituency and his most important ally.
“If we work together, we have a shot,” he told Trump.
He did not publicly commit to rein in settlements.
Trump was not more specific about settlements, which have become one of the main obstacles to a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, but his administration had previously called on Israel not to expand existing settlement blocs.
As to his campaign promise to quickly move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Trump said he is considering it “with great care.” Arab allies have urged Trump to slow down or cancel that pledge for fear of inflaming anti-Israel sentiment and lessening Arab governments’ leverage over the Palestinians in a peace negotiation.
A deal would “take some flexibility” on Israel’s part and a shift away from the “hate” Palestinians have been taught to hold toward Israel, Trump said.
“Both sides have to make compromises,” Trump said of an eventual agreement. “You know that, right?” he said, turning to Netanyahu.
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Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and close aide, sat in the front row. Trump has said Kushner would be his chief envoy for a peace push.