For the first time since taking office, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday endorsed the two-state solution as the best way to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the day. Trump told Netanyahu that "the U.S. stands with Israel 100%."
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence echoed the sentiment, tweeting, "The United States of America is proud to stand with Israel and her people, as allies and cherished friends. Under President Trump, we continue to work tirelessly to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Israel."
In a joint press conference held after their meeting, Trump told reporters that he believes that the two-state solution "works best."
He has previously been vague on the topic, suggesting that he would support whatever the parties might agree to, including possibly a one-state resolution, which might see the Palestinian territories become part of Israel.
"I like [the] two-state solution. That's what I think works best. That's my feeling. Now, you may have a different feeling. I don't think so. But I think the two-state solution works best."
He said that reaching a two-state solution is "more difficult because it's a real estate deal" but that ultimately it "works better because you have people governing themselves."
He added that he would still support Israel and the Palestinians should they opt for a one-state solution, though he believed that was less likely.
"Bottom line: If the Israelis and Palestinians want one-state, that's OK with me. If they want two states, that's OK with me. I'm happy if they're happy," he said.
In his earlier comments, Trump said his much anticipated but still unreleased Middle East peace plan could be presented in the next two to four months but was not specific as to timing.
A senior Israeli diplomat noted that "we have no control over the American timetable. They say it will be rolled out in three months – it's always in three months – and it's absurd to think that if the U.S. is working on such a proposal, we would do anything to circumvent them."
Netanyahu said that he was "not surprised" by Trump's preference for the two-state solution, despite the Palestinian's refusal to engage in peace talks.
Palestinian rejectionism has grown worse over a series of moves that they say show distinct bias toward Israel, chiefly Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the U.S. Embassy there.
The Trump administration has also slashed aid to the U.N. agency that aids Palestinian refugees and shuttered the Palestine Liberation Organization mission in Washington.
Netanyahu, who is slated to address the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday evening, thanked Trump for his support and his decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and said U.S.-Israel relations have never been better than under his administration.
"Thank you for your strong words in the General Assembly against the corrupt terrorist regime in Iran," Netanyahu said. "They back up your strong words and strong actions."
He further thanked Trump "for the extraordinary support that you have shown for Israel in this building. In the U.N., no one has backed Israel like you do, and we appreciate it."
"This is the first time that we are meeting after the American Embassy has been moved to Jerusalem. You've changed history, and you've touched our hearts," Netanyahu said.
The prime minister also expressed his gratitude for Trump's "robust defense of Israel's right of self-defense. I think everybody should understand that Israel will continue to do what is necessary and defend ourselves against Iranian aggression in Syria, in Lebanon, anywhere else. And I have no doubt that as we do so, we'll enjoy the support of President Donald Trump and the United States of America," he told reporters.
Speaking later with Israeli reporters, Netanyahu said that during his meeting with Trump, they discussed the downing of a Russian reconnaissance plane by Syrian air defenses, an incident that has stoked regional tensions and prompted Russia to announce plans to give Syria advanced S-300 missiles, which might hamper the Israeli Air Force ability to targets Iranian assets in Syria.
Netanyahu said that all of his requests from Trump on this issue were "met in full," but offered no details.
A senior Israeli official dismissed reports suggesting Russian President Vladimir Putin had rejected Netanyahu's request for a meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly session, saying that while Netanyahu had suggested they meet, the venue was never discussed.
"I believe they will meet in the coming weeks. Things are still too fresh," he said.
Prior to leaving for New York, Netanyahu said that the defense coordination between Israel and Russia in Syria will continue.
"We have an interest in continuing to act against Iranian consolidation in Syria," he said. "It is very important that we act wisely, that we stabilize ties with the Russians, to preserve the [deconfliction] mechanism and Israel's right and freedom defend itself on all fronts."
One senior official said that Netanyahu had full confidence in the IDF's findings over the incident, adding that "Syria's skies are very crowded. We have mounted hundreds of operations there over the past three years and no Russian soldier has ever been harmed. We are not to blame for what happened."
The Palestinians reacted cautiously to Trump's remarks, noting that a two-state solution has long been the goal of peace efforts, including a broader Arab-Israeli plan that would see Arab states all recognize Israel if the Palestinians got an independent state.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Wednesday that the Palestinians remain committed to their demand for a state based on the 1967 line with east Jerusalem as its capital.
"Peace requires a two-state solution, where the state of Palestine is based on the 1967 boundaries with east Jerusalem as its capital," he said. "This is the Arab and international attitude, and all final status issues need to be solved according to the international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative."
Trump and his national security team have defended their position, saying that decades of attempts to forge Israeli-Palestinian peace have failed.
He said Wednesday that the embassy move would actually help peace efforts by recognizing the reality that Israel identifies Jerusalem as its capital. But he added that Israel would have to make concessions to the Palestinians in any negotiations.
"Israel got the first chip and it's a big one," Trump said. "By taking off the table the embassy moving to Jerusalem – that was always the primary ingredient as to why deals couldn't get done – that's off the table. Now, that will also mean that Israel will have to do something that is good for the other side."
