Friedman would be ‘delighted to see peace,’ doubtful about 2-state solution

Trump’s nominee for US Ambassador to Israel conveyed his doubts regarding the prospects of a two-state solution, while supporting it if achieved. 

President Donald Trump’s nominee for Ambassador to Israel said that he would be “delighted” if a two-state solution were to be agreed upon between Israel and the Palestinians, during his confirmation hearing with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday.

“If the Israelis and Palestinians were able through direct negotiations to achieve a two-state solution along parameters agreed to by them, I would be delighted,” Friedman said when asked to specify his perspective on the two-state solution.

“I would be delighted to see a peace come to this region where people have suffered on both sides for so long,” Friedman added.

At the same time, Friedman noted his doubts regarding the prospects of a two-state solution.

“I have expressed my skepticism about the two-state solution solely on the basis on what I’ve perceived to be an unwillingness on the part of the Palestinians to renounce terror and accept Israel as a Jewish state,” Friedman stressed.

“The two-state solution, as you know, began to take form in 1993 with the Oslo Accords. One of the primary commitments of those accords was Chairman Arafat’s commitment to end incitement and to begin to educate his people to stop hatred and we haven’t made progress since then and in the aftermath of Oslo, terrorism has increased fourfold,” he continued.

“I think that, in my view, is a foundational problem, but I think it can be remedied and I hope it is.”

Before Friedman’s hearing on Thursday, five former US ambassadors to Israel wrote a letter to the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee in which they expressed their opposition to confirming Friedman, noting his previous remarks against the two-state solution.

By: Jonathan Benedek, World Israel News