From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Waltz says Trump has not ruled out a future two-state solution
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
More from US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz’s interview with CBS:
Waltz says President Trump has not ruled out a future two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but suggests that the Palestinian state would only include the West Bank and not Gaza.
Asked if Trump’s plan to take over Gaza and turn it into an international economic hub means the end of US support for a two-state solution, Waltz responds, “I certainly didn’t hear the president say it was the end of the two-state solution.”
“You have the Palestinian Authority, you have the West Bank,” Waltz adds.
Waltz notes that Trump also said during his press conference yesterday that Palestinians would also be allowed to live in Gaza once it is rebuilt. Earlier in the day, though, he said the Gazan population needed to be “permanently” resettled elsewhere.
The top Trump aide says the US is speaking with its allies in the region about the issue, particularly the leaders of Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Jordan’s King Abdullah is meeting Trump at the White House next week.
“The president is engaging with our key allies in the region and asking for their input, asking for their ideas,” he says.
Waltz also stresses that the US and Israel are aligned in the belief that Hamas cannot remain in Gaza. “We would not allow ISIS to continue to attack us on our border,” he says. “We’re going to support the Israeli government as they defend themselves.”
