President Trump says there is “no reason” Israelis and Palestinians cannot end their longstanding animosity.
“I want to see peace with Israel and the Palestinians,” Trump told Reuters Thursday. “There is no reason there’s not peace between Israel and the Palestinians — none whatsoever.”
Trump has tasked his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but no new peace talks have been announced.
Trump confirmed his administration is discussing possible visits to Israel and Saudi Arabia during the second half of May.
{mosads}The president also complained that Saudi Arabia had not treated the U.S. fairly despite America’s spending protecting it.
“Frankly, Saudi Arabia has not treated us fairly, because we’re losing a tremendous amount of money in defending Saudi Arabia,” Trump said.
Trump added that the U.S., Saudi Arabia and other allies would ultimately defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
“I have to say, there is an end. And it has to be humiliation. There is an end. Otherwise, it’s really tough. But there is an end.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is set to meet Trump during a visit to Washington next week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House in February amid promises from Trump to bring peace to the region.