Trump Signals Shift in Middle East Policy in Meeting With Israeli PM Netanyahu

President Donald Trump played host to yet another foreign leader on Wednesday, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. At a joint press conference, the two expressed their enduring support for the U.S.-Israel alliance, and Trump’s responses to questions from the press gallery showed that there could be more flexibility in America’s Middle East policy than has existed in the past.

When asked about his views on Israel’s settlements in the West Bank — which sparked a condemnation by the UN Security Council (that was in turn rebuked by Congress) — Trump turned toward his counterpart and said: "I’d like to see you hold back on settlements for a little bit. We’ll work something out, but I’d like to see a deal be made, I think a deal will be made… It might be a bigger and better deal than people in this room even understand. That’s a possibility. So let’s see what we do."

Netanyahu responded "let’s try it," and Trump joked that he “doesn’t sound too optimistic — he’s a good negotiator” to which the Israeli replied “that’s the ‘Art of the Deal.’” The warm exchange was a noticeable contrast to the often frosty relationship Netanyahu had with former President Obama.

It was Trump’s answer to a follow-up question about his view of the peace process and whether it was focused on a two-state solution that was the biggest departure from past U.S. policy. Trump said "I’m looking at two-state and one-state — and I like the one that both parties like… I thought for a while the two-state looked like it may be the easier of the two, but honestly if Bibi and if the Palestinians — if Israel and the Palestinians are happy, I’m happy with the one they like the best."

Support for the two-state solution had been U.S. policy during the administrations of the last two presidents, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Part of the reason the UN Security Council condemned Israel’s settlements in the West Bank is because they’re viewed by some as an obstacle to a two-state solution.

A one-state solution would involve absorbing Palestinian territory into Israel, which would alter the demographics of the country such that it would no longer be a majority Jewish state, a change that is opposed by many Israelis. A two-state solution has proven elusive in part because of divisions in Palestinian leadership, with Hamas in Gaza openly antagonistic toward Israel and Fatah in the West Bank willing to cooperate with Israel on certain issues.

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(Photo Credit: Maj. Stephanie Addison / Public Domain)