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Trump ‘likes’ two-state solution but one-state ‘okay with me’

Hours after declaring his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Trump said a one-state resolution would be “okay with me.”

By: World Israel News

After stating his preference for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, US President Donald Trump clarified his remarks, saying that he would agree to whatever makes the two sides “happy.”

On Wednesday, the president told reporters, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, that two states – one for Israel and another for the Palestinians – would be his preference.

“I like [a] two-state solution,” Trump said as he posed for photographs with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “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 a two-state solution works best.”

Later in the day he expanded on his statement, saying, “Bottom line: If the Israelis and Palestinians want one state, that’s okay with me. If they want two states, that’s okay with me. I’m happy, if they’re happy.”

“I think probably two-state is more likely, but you know what? I think if they do a single, if they do a double, I’m okay with it, if they’re both happy,” he said, according to Times of Israel.

Similar remarks almost 2 years ago

Trump has made similar remarks since taking office. Back in February 2017, at a joint press conference with Netanyahu, he said:

“I’m looking at at a two-state and a one-state, and I like the one that both parties like… I could live with either one… I thought for awhile that the two-state looked like it might be the easier one…but if Israel and the Palestinians are happy, I’m happy with the one that they like best.”

Trump has yet to unveil his peace plan, which he refers to as the “deal of the century.”

“I’m a facilitator. I want to see if I can get a deal done so that people don’t get killed anymore,” he told journalists on Wednesday.

Asked when he intends to present his plan, he vaguely responded, “I would say over the next two to three to four months.”