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of the new embassy, Trump responded, “If I can, I will.”
Last month the State Department announced plans to open the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem in May to coincide with Israel’s 70th anniversary. The embassy will be in a complex already occupied by the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem’s Arnona neighborhood while U.S. officials search for a permanent site. Trump announced the decision in December.
Trump and Netanyahu made their remarks in the Oval Office, where they sat flanked by their wives. Trump noted that the couples had been friends “for a long time,” and Netanyahu proved it by referring to the president once as “Donald.”
Trump did not refer to Netanyahu by his nickname “Bibi” during their brief remarks before the press pool.
When Trump announced his Jerusalem decision, he argued that, contrary to conventional thinking, the move would make “the ultimate deal” — a peace plan between Palestinians and Israelis — more likely by taking an issue on which Israel would not budge off the table.
Trump reiterated that argument Monday and added, “So this gives us a real opportunity to (achieve) peace. We’ll see how it works out. The Palestinians, I think, are wanting to come back to the table very badly.”
Trump added, “If they don’t, you don’t have peace, and that’s a possibility also.”
Trump and Netanyahu also discussed Iran, with the Israeli prime minister declaring, “Iran must be stopped.”
Both leaders want to curb Iran’s military presence in Syria and terminate the Iran nuclear deal supported by President Barack Obama and European leaders.
Later Monday, Vice President
Mike Pence resumed his role as Trump proxy on Israel when he repeated that sentiment. He told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, “We will not allow the defeat of ISIS to become a victory for Iran.”
In January, Pence visited Israel on a three-country trip that included Egypt and Jordan. He became the first U.S. vice president to address the Knesset, and his drama-filled speech evoked a standing ovation from most members but jeers from members of the Joint List of Arab-dominated parties after Pence promised the new embassy would open before the end of 2019.
The following day, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin told the vice president, “You are a mensch,” a Yiddish term for an upright man.
On Sunday in Washington, Netanyahu met with Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales in the Blair House, where the Israeli leader is staying, to thank him for announcing his country’s decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem after Trump’s announcement.
Both Trump and Netanyahu have been the subjects of law enforcement probes.
The day before Israel’s first couple left for Washington, police questioned both Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, in connection with a burgeoning corruption case. On Monday, a top Netanyahu aide signed a plea agreement in which he agreed to testify against the prime minister. Netanyahu has called the story a “media witch hunt.”
Meanwhile, special counsel Robert Mueller has been investigating possible Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Contact Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders@reviewjournal. com or 202-662-7391. Follow @ Debrajsaunders on Twitter.