LONDON: Dropping a two-decade old commitment by the United States towards the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, President Donald Trump stated that his administration had no preference when it came to the final geographical shape of the region.
The US president, speaking on Wednesday at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, did not rule out a two-state solution but stated that his administration had no preference, reports the Guardian.
“I’m looking at two-state and one-state and I like the one that both parties like. I’m very happy with the one that both parties like,” he said,” Trump said in response on being asked about a two-state solution.
Trump’s comments have managed to take apart 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. We will be working on it very, very diligently. But it is the parties themselves who must directly negotiate such an agreement, Trump said.
“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,” he added.
Trump further called on Netanyahu to pull back on settlement construction for a little bit.
The Israeli government has said it plans to build approximately 6,000 Jewish settlement housing units in the West Bank, signaling a rush in planned construction since Trump was sworn in as president in January.
However, Netanyahu shrugged off Trump’s comment and insisted that settlements were “not the core of the conflict”.