President Trump said Wednesday that he believes a two-state solution “works best” to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — and will present the peace plan in the coming months.
“I like two-state solution,” Trump said alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. “That’s what I think works best.”
He added: “A lot of progress has been made, Israel and the Palestinians want to do something. We’’ll start moving pretty soon rapidly.
“I really believe something will happen. It is a dream of mine to be able to get that done prior to the end of my first term.”
Trump said he expects to submit the proposal that would create an independent Palestine “over the next two to three to four months.”
He added that while he’s with Netanyahu “100 percent,” Israel will have to do something that is good for the other side.
“Deals have to be good for both parties,” he said, adding that he thinks the Palestinians “actually want to do something.”
Last week, eight European Union countries urged Israel to reconsider its planned demolition of a Palestinian settlement on the West Bank and said they will not give up on a negotiated two-state solution with Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and a new Palestinian state.
The Trump administration has in the past said it would support a two-state solution if both parties agreed to it.
The two leaders were expected to discuss the downed Russian plane in Syria, the threat posed by Iran’s military in that country, the US sanctions on Tehran and the White House pressure on the Palestinians in light of Trump’s efforts to deliver a “peace deal,” according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
Trump said Israel is being aggressive on defense because it has to be.
“Very much in favor of what Israel is doing as far as their defense is concerned,” he said.
For his part, Netanyahu thanked Trump for his “strong words yesterday in the General Assembly against the corrupt terrorist regime in Iran.”
“You back up your strong words with strong actions and the fact that you have brought American sanctions has cut the cash machine of Iran and its campaign of carnage and conquest,” he said.
“No one has backed Israel like you do, and we appreciate it,” he continued. “This is the first time we meet after the American Embassy has been moved to Jerusalem. We changed history and you touched our hearts.”
With Post wires



