Trump: ‘Two states works best, but one state is fine’

He repeated his first ever endorsement of the two-state solution since taking office, which he had made earlier in the day, when he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
US President Donald Trump pauses as he addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, September 25, 2018 (photo credit: CARLO ALLEGRI/REUTERS)
US President Donald Trump pauses as he addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, September 25, 2018
(photo credit: CARLO ALLEGRI/REUTERS)
A two state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict works best because it allows for people to govern themselves, US President Donald Trump told reporters at a new conference in New York.
He repeated his first ever endorsement of the two-state solution since taking office, which he had made earlier in the day, when he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But at the same time, Trump repeated for the reporters the line that he had said when he first entered office, that if both the Israelis and Palestinians wanted to see a one state resolution to the conflict, he would go with that.
Trump said the issue was raised when a reporter asked him about the issue of one state versus two states while he sat with Netanyahu.
The President said he responded by stating: “I think the two state [resolution] will happen.”
Then he added, “I think in one way it is more difficult because it is a real estate deal. It is a little tougher deal. But in another way it works better because you have people governing themselves.
“I think we are going to go down the two state road. I am glad I got it out. And Jared who is so involved. He loves Israel. But he is also going to be very fair with the Palestinians.
“It takes two groups of people to be happy. Everyone has to be happy. That is why it is so tough. There has been so much hatred and anger for so many years.
“I said I think it will be a two state. By saying that, I put it out there. If you ask most of the people in Israel they agree with that, but no one wanted to say it. It is a big thing to put it out.
“Bottom line. If the Israelis and the Palestinians want one state that is OK with me. If they want two states, that is OK with me. I am happy if they are happy. I am a facilitator. I want to see if I can get a deal done, so people do not get killed any more.”