Image by Getty

By Thea Glassman February 16, 2017

An off-the-cuff comment from President Trump on Israel has set off a flurry of cautious excitement from conservative commentators.

During a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, Trump said he was “looking” at both one-state and two-state solutions. “I like the one that both parties like,” he added. “I can live with either one.”

While advocates for a two-state solution expressed concerns over the American government reversing its stance on Middle East peacemaking, commentators from ring-wing sites rejoiced over Trump and his apparent pro-Israel point of view.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Melissa Mckenzie, from The American Spector, praised both Trump’s “warm and positive” interactions with Netanyahu, and repeatedly contrasted the president’s stance on Israel to Barack Obama’s.

“Relations between our countries is already better than between the Obama administration and Israel,” Mckenzie wrote. “What that will mean in practical terms regarding the peace process, settlements, and an embassy move isn’t clear.”

Mackenzie added that critics were wrong to say Trump’s statement was wishy-washy — and that he ultimately has Israel’s best interests in mind.

She wrote: “Trump basically said, and I’m paraphrasing, Hey, if Israel and the Palestinians, but more importantly, Israel, are happy, what do I care? I want them to come to a resolution, find peace, and be happy. One-state. Two-state. No matter.”

Over at National Review, writer Jonah Goldberg said that Trump’s neutral language was important. In fact, he felt that the sheer “indifference” in the president’s comment actually delivered a pro-Israel punch.

“What he was doing was endorsing a diplomatic principle that is just as important: The U.S. cannot impose peace on terms that aren’t accepted by the parties, and we shouldn’t behave in a manner that encourages Palestinians’ ongoing refusal to make peace,” Goldberg wrote.

Goldberg added that Trump meeting with Netanyahu was a major step for the Jewish community at large.

“Choosing to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu and show him public kindness (as opposed to Obama snubbing him) means much in a world increasingly hostile to Israel and the Jewish people,” Goldberg wrote.

The Jerusalem Post writer Herb Keinon also praised Trump’s performance in the press conference, contrasting the tone with Obama’s previous meetings with Netanyahu (“friendlier, lighter”) and applauding the president’s stance on Israel.

“[It] is a significant shift from what has become axiomatic, that the only solution is a two-state solution,” Keinon wrote. “Trump is essentially saying that he is open to entertaining ideas and approaches to the diplomatic process other than the ones that have been tried – and have failed – since the Oslo process began in 1993.”

Keinon also applauded Trump for moving away from the idea that a two-state solution is the only solution.

“Trump’s refraining from clearly saying that two states is the only way, while endorsing a wider regional approach, is a significant reset of the entire diplomatic process with the Palestinians,” he wrote.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount