Two states or one state? Confusion at the White House

HAS Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and American President Donald Trump dumped the two-state solution?

That’s the questions people are left wondering after a confusing press conference by the two leaders at the White House overnight.

“I’m looking at two-state and one-state, and I like the one that both parties like,” Trump said.

“I’m very happy with the one that both parties like. I can live with either one.”

“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.”

Trump added that he is going to put together a big deal taking in “many, many countries” covering a “very large territory”.

On Netanyahu’s part, he didn’t back away from Trump’s comments and said that, “Chinese are called Chinese because they come from China. The Japanese are called Japanese because they come from Japan. Well, Jews are called Jews because they come from Judea.”

Netanyahu said the prerequisites of peace are the recognition of the Jewish state, and Israel’s security needs west of the Jordan.

While Trump was clearly in Israel’s corner during the joint press conference, he did call for a halt to new settlements construction.

“I’d like to see you hold back on settlements for a little bit,” Trump said to Netanyahu.

Netanyahu didn’t directly respond to the request, but said that settlements are not the core of the conflict.

See the full press conference below.