President teases major announcement regarding Judea and Samaria after reportedly pressing Netanyahu to soften his policies there to avoid a major escalation.
By David Rosenberg, World Israel News
President Donald Trump reiterated his support Monday for the mass migration of Gazans from the Gaza Strip, lamenting that no countries have yet volunteered to host large numbers of refugees from the war-torn coastal enclave.
In a question-and-answer session with reporters during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Mar-a-Lago, the president mentioned polling suggesting that most of the approximately two million people living in Gaza would emigrate if given the opportunity.
“I heard that number today, half of Gaza would leave. I’ve always said it. I said if they were given the opportunity to live in a better climate, they would move there because they sort of have to be. I think it would be a great opportunity.”
“But let’s see if that opportunity presents itself. But we’re helping the people of Gaza a lot. So is Israel, by the way.”
Trump, who called in February for the entire population to be evacuated, said mass migration “was common sense” given the decades-long conflict and the devastation in the Gaza Strip, but added that he would not press the issue for the time being.
“It was actually more than half the people would leave if they were given the opportunity. And I’ve been saying that for a long time. It was to me… common sense.”
“Why wouldn’t countries accept them? Look, let’s not talk about it because we don’t want the controversy right now. We’re helping Gaza.”
“But if they were given the opportunity, I think even higher than that.”
The president also teased an announcement regarding Judea and Samaria, noting that he had spoken with Netanyahu on the subject and acknowledging some disagreements with the Israeli leader.
“We have had a discussion, a big discussion, for a long time on the West Bank. And I wouldn’t say we agree on the West Bank one hundred percent. But we will come to a conclusion on the West Bank,” he said.
“It’ll be announced at an appropriate time. But he will do the right thing. I know that. I know him very well.”
According to a report by Axios published on Tuesday that cited a US official, Trump and his aides urged Netanyahu during Monday’s meeting to soften his government’s policies toward the Palestinian Authority and to take steps to avoid a major escalation in Judea and Samaria, which the White House fears could block plans to expand the Abraham Accords.
Trump reportedly asked Netanyahu to “calm things down” in Judea and Samaria and to crack down on vigilante actions by Israeli civilians living in the area.
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