US President Donald Trump’s break with decades of support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is irresponsible and does not advance peace, a senior Palestinian said on Wednesday.
“This does not make sense,” said Palestine Liberation Organisation executive committee member Hanan Ashrawi.
“This is not a responsible policy and it does not serve the cause of peace. They cannot just say that without an alternative,” she added.
On Tuesday, a senior White House official said the United States would no longer seek to dictate the terms of any eventual peace settlement by insisting on a Palestinian state alongside Israel, but would support whatever the two sides agree to together.
READ MORE: In reversal, White House will not insist on two-state solution in Mideast
The comments came on the eve of White House talks between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “A two-state solution that doesn’t bring peace is not a goal that anybody wants to achieve,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
“Peace is the goal, whether that comes in the form of a two-state solution if that’s what the parties want, or something else if that’s what the parties want.”
For the better part of half a century, successive US governments — both Republican and Democrat — have backed a two-state solution.
Trump has yet to speak directly to the Palestinian leadership since taking office last month.
