Netanyahu Expresses 'Willingness' to Slow Construction Following Meeting with Trump

The Prime Minister of Israel, following a meeting with the President of the United States, expressed 'willingness' to slow down construction in disputed territories with the Palestinians. According to Israeli media, Netanyahu made this 'willingness' statement after Donald Trump's remarks made shortly before during a joint press conference. Mr. Trump, in the Wednesday press conference with Netanyahu at the White House, stated that he wants Israel to 'hold off on construction' in Jewish settlements for 'a while'. Part of the topics discussed in the joint press conference during this first meeting between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu after the new U.S. presidency began focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and construction issues. The Israeli government issued permits for the construction of over six thousand homes less than three weeks after Trump entered the White House, and Netanyahu, for the first time in a long period, spoke about the construction of a completely new settlement. However, Trump's clear statements on Wednesday seemingly put the brakes on the Israeli government's eagerness to continue construction for a while. According to Israeli media, Netanyahu, in a separate conversation with reporters after attending the joint press conference with Trump, largely deviated from the two-state solution he had supported years ago. Netanyahu stated that he opposes the two-state solution, although he does not favor annexing the West Bank with its nearly two million Palestinians. Donald Trump mentioned in the joint press conference with Benjamin Netanyahu that both the 'two-state solution' and 'one-state solution' are being considered by him, and 'whatever the Israelis and Palestinians prefer is the best way'. In response to the statements made by the Israeli Prime Minister in the Washington press conference, Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, in a statement expressed his readiness to 'cooperate' with Donald Trump and his administration to achieve peace, calling on Netanyahu to stop the construction. Mr. Abbas noted in his statement that the U.S. President also warned Netanyahu about the construction during the joint press conference. Mahmoud Abbas also wrote that the destruction of the two-state solution has increasingly destabilized the region and spread radicalism. Palestinian and Israeli media reported that shortly before Netanyahu's meeting with Trump at the White House, the U.S. government sent Mike Pompeo, the head of the CIA, to meet with Mr. Abbas in the West Bank to discuss these issues. At the same time, Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, stated during his visit to Cairo on Wednesday that there is 'no alternative' to the two-state solution. The spokesperson for the German government also stated on Wednesday that the Berlin government remains committed to the solution of two states for Israel and Palestine. Several other EU member countries have also expressed concern about any policy change that would lead to the cancellation of the two-state solution. According to reports, Julie Bishop, the Australian Foreign Minister, also expressed support for the two-state solution, deeming it important for stability and peace. Additionally, according to the Jerusalem Post in its Thursday edition, Netanyahu revealed in a conversation with reporters after the joint press conference with Trump that another of his requests from the U.S. President was 'recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights'. According to Netanyahu, 'When I made this request, President Trump was not surprised to hear it'. The previous U.S. administration had rejected a similar request from Israel for 'recognition of sovereignty over the Golan Heights'. Israel took control of part of the Golan Heights in the preemptive war of 1967 and annexed it in 1981.