By Anne Gearan and David Nakamura
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump directly called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to curtail Jewish home building in the West Bank, as he predicted that he can help broker an end to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“I’d like to see you hold back on settlements for a little bit,” Trump said as he welcomed Netanyahu to the White House for their first meeting since the Republican president took office. “We’ll work something out,” Trump added.
In his most extensive remarks as president about the chances for Mideast peace, Trump said he “could live with” either a separate Palestinian state or a unitary state as a peaceful outcome.
“I want the one that both parties want,” he said.
That is a dramatic departure from past U.S. policy supporting the goal of an independent Palestine alongside Israel. Both Republican and Democratic presidents have backed a future Palestine on West Bank land that is now mostly under Israeli military occupation.
“I think we’re going to make a deal,” Trump said. “I think it’ll be a bigger and better deal than people in this room even understand.”
Netanyahu voiced more skepticism but also told Trump, “if we work together we have a shot.”
Trump was not more specific about settlements, which have become one of the main obstacles to a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, but his administration had previously called on Israel not to expand existing settlement blocs.
As to his campaign promise to quickly move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Trump said he is considering it “with great care.” Arab allies have urged Trump to slow down or cancel that pledge for fear of inflaming anti-Israeli sentiment and lessening Arab governments’ leverage over the Palestinians in a peace negotiation.
A deal will “take some flexibility,” on Israel’s part, and a shift away from the “hate” Palestinians are taught to hold toward Israel, Trump said.
“Both sides have to make compromises,” Trump said of an eventual agreement. “You know that, right?” he said, turning to Netanyahu.
“That’s the art of the deal,” the Israeli leader replied a short while later.
Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and close aide, sat in the front row. Trump has said Kushner would be his chief envoy for a peace push.
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