Palestinian officials rejected US President Donald Trump's comments
supporting a two-state solution for Palestinians and Israelis, saying
American policies were destroying any hope for peace.
Trump made the statement during the annual United Nations General
Assembly on Wednesday after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu. He said a two-state solution could resolve the decades-old
Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
It was the first time since taking office that Trump endorsed a two-state solution as the best way to resolve the conflict.
Husam Zomlot, head of the recently closed Palestinian mission in Washington, DC, denounced the US president's comments.
"Their words go against their actions and their action is absolutely
clear [and] is destroying the possibility of the two-state solution,"
Zumlot said.
'Works the best'
Trump also said he wanted to unveil details of what he has long referred
to as the "deal of the century" to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict in the next two to three months.
According to reports, the proposal prohibits the return of more than
five million Palestinian refugees and removes the status of Jerusalem
from negotiations.
"I like a two-state solution. That's what I think works best. That's my feeling," said Trump.
Netanyahu said after meeting Trump he was "not surprised" at the US
president's preference for a two-state solution for peace, Israeli media
reports said.
Last week, the US announced it was shutting down the Palestine
Liberation Organization's (PLO) diplomatic office in Washington over the
Palestinian Authority's refusal to enter into US-brokered negotiations
with Israel.
The move came amid deteriorating ties between the two sides in the wake
of Trump's controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital
late last year and the relocation of its embassy there.
'Toughest of all deals'
"I really believe something will happen. They say it's the toughest of
all deals," Trump said of attaining peace between the two sides.
"It is a dream of mine to get that done prior to the end of my first
term ... I think a lot of progress has been made. I think that Israel
wants to do something and I think that the Palestinians actually want to
do something."
The Palestinian leadership, which sees East Jerusalem as the capital of a
future state, suspended contacts with the US after it recognised
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The Palestinians insist the status of the city is an issue to be negotiated between them and the Israelis.
In the past, Trump dropped the long-standing commitment to a two-state
solution, saying he would back a single-state solution after a meeting
with Netanyahu in February 2017. He later walked that back saying he
would support a two-state solution if both sides agreed to it.
1967 borders
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President
Mahmud Abbas, told reporters in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah
that Trump needs to act on his statement.
"In response to what Trump said about the two-state solution, the
two-state solution means to us that we have a Palestinian state on the
1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital," Abu Rudeineh said.
"This is the only way to achieve peace."
He added Palestinians want to resolve all core issues of the conflict -
which include borders, illegal settlements, refugees, security and the
status of Jerusalem - "according to United Nations resolutions".
Abbas will speak at the UN General Assembly on Thursday.
Trump said the embassy move to Jerusalem would actually help peace
efforts, saying Israel would now have to make concessions to the
Palestinians in any negotiations.
"Israel got the first chip and it's a big one. By taking off the table
the embassy moving to Jerusalem, that was always the primary ingredient
as to why deals couldn't get done," said Trump.
"Now, that's off the table. Now, that will also mean that Israel will have to do something that is good for the other side."
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