Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer. Photo by Reuters A recent report from Axios states that Israel is attempting to block a resolution in the Senate calling for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer is pressuring Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) to remove the words “two-state solution” from their drafted resolution, according to Axios. Israel’s position on the matter is that they don’t have a problem with a resolution endorsing talks between Israel and the Palestinians, so long as the resolution doesn’t specify a particular outcome from the dialogue.
Bridget Frey, a spokesperson for Van Hollen, told Axios that the two senators are not accepting Israel’s request.
“Both Senators Van Hollen and Graham are long-time supporters of a two-state solution and are working on the best way to advance that commitment in Congress,” Frey said.
White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, said in March that the Trump administration’s peace plan for the Israel-Palestinian conflict will not feature a two-state solution since the term means different things to Israelis and the Palestinians. In a recent interview with Axios, Kushner said he hoped that the Palestinians would eventually “become capable of governing.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he supports applying Israeli sovereignty to parts of Judea and Samaria.
An April Haaretz poll found that 42 percent of Israelis support some type of annexation in Judea and Samaria while 28 percent are against annexation of any kind; a December 2018 University of Maryland Critical Issues Poll found that 36 percent of Americans believe the Trump administration should support two-state solution and 35 percent think they should advocate for a two-state solution.
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