Washington (Web Desk): Donald Trump supports the concept of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, articulated his preference on the issue for the first time since sparking international criticism for appearing to back away from the longstanding bedrock of Middle Eastern policy.
However in an interview to international media, Trump stopped short of reasserting a US assurance to eventual Palestinian statehood and instead said again that he would be “satisfied with whatever makes both parties happy.”
Trump’s comments put a new twist on a statement he made at a Feb. 15 joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggesting that his administration would no longer insist on the creation of an independent Palestinian state as part of any future peace accord.
If the Trump administration moves forward according to his has promised, with an initiative to restart long-stalled peace efforts, long underpinned US-led peace diplomacy will not be discarded send a positive signal to international community.
Trump was asked that whether he had backed away from the concept during his joint White House appearance with the right-wing Israeli leader, he replied, “No, I like the two-state solution but I ultimately like what the both parties like.”
He added, “People have been talking about it for so many years now. It so far hasn’t worked so I like this two-state solution, but I am satisfied with whatever both parties agree with.”
A one-state solution would be deeply problematic for both sides. One concept would be two systems for two peoples, which many Palestinians would see as apartheid and endless occupation. A second version would mean equal rights for all, including for Palestinians in an annexed West Bank, but that would compromise Israel’s Jewish character.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned against abandoning the idea of a two-state solution, saying there was "no alternative," and Egyptian and Jordanian leaders also renewed their commitment to that goal.