Washington – The Trump administration is resisting pressure to clarify its stance on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, amid warnings from Palestinian leaders that their patience is running out.
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Since the beginning of Donald Trump’s term in office, the White House has declined to outline what solution the president envisions for an end to the storied conflict. Pressed on whether he would uphold the US’ longstanding commitment to two states for two peoples, Trump declined back in February: “I’m looking at two-state and one-state, and I like the one that both parties like,” he said, standing beside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I’m very happy with the one that both parties like. I can live with either one.”
Heather Nauert, the State Department’s spokesman, repeated on Wednesday that the administration’s position remains unchanged.
“We are not going to state what the outcome has to be – it has to be workable to both sides,” Nauert said. “And I think, really, that’s the best view as to not really bias one side over the other, to make sure that they can work through it.”
A State Department official tells The Jerusalem Post that Nauert’s use of the word “bias” was unprepared, and that she meant to say the administration supports whatever outcome the parties jointly agree upon.
“It’s been many, many decades, as you well know, that the parties have not been able to come to any kind of good agreement and sustainable solution to this,” Nauert added. “So we leave it up to them to be able to work that through.”
Yet a US delegation on the ground seeking to salvage peace talks between the two sides now faces increasing pressure to take a stand, with Palestinian Authority leadership, in particular, insistent that Trump recognize the two-state solution as the only viable path forward for peace.
Presidents of both parties have called for a two-state solution to the conflict over several decades.
Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law turned senior adviser; Jason Greenblatt, his special representative for international negotiations; and Dina Powell, a deputy national security adviser, are touring the region this week with Middle East peace as their focus. On Thursday they held meetings with Netanyahu and are scheduled to meet as well with PA leadership.
A readout of the delegation’s meeting with Israeli government officials offered no new details.
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The two state solution is DOA. It is really simple. Giving these savages land only creates launching pads for more terror. So far, Abbas y”sh and the rest of these animals have staunchly refused to abandon terror and to prohibit it. They not only accept it, but justify it, blaming the victims of it. Trump will simply not support that, and cannot. He knows that Israel can never legitimize terror against its citizens. We are left with no one human or humane to negotiate with. Until the Palis begin becoming humans with morals, they should not be accepted or recognized by anyone.
Only Mashiach is the answer. Until then its all for naught.
Thank you president Trump for supporting Israel and remaining true to your ideology.
To my Satmar and briska friends. Don’t kid yourself. There is no two state solution. Muslims don’t seek peace. If you give them a statehood they will use it to attack us and will never be pacified. They will never be happy. Its dangerous to proivde them with tools to attack us.
Its irrelevant if they shlechta tzionim are to blame for this fiasco. Now that these wild aniamls are on the run thanks to the tzionim you can’t tame them. It just won’t happen. The best of all bad options is to keep them locked in their cages as they are in Gaza. There is no peace plan. Yes my plan is far from ideal. But till moshiach comes there is no better plan. And peace just puts us in greater danger.
Kushner is an American not an Israeli. He can express opinions but not make decisions!
Bannon says Kushner is a dope.
Of course the two-state solution is dead. Any solution at all is dead. Neither side sees much reason to make peace and both publics will punish any politician who tries to make peace. This will change when both sides have suffered enough.