BICOM

The Prime Minister of Israel is set to meet the US President in Washington DC today, with a peace agreement with the Palestinians thought to be high on the agenda.

Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump will also discuss the Iranian nuclear deal, the Syrian War and the threat from ISIS, and potentially the President’s election promise to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem at their meeting today, which takes place at 5pm (GMT).

Yesterday, the White House announced the Trump administration will seek to broker a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians, with one senior White House official calling it a “very high priority for the administration”.

However, the same official stressed that that this might not necessarily be within a two-state solution framework. The anonymous official said: “A two-state solution that doesn’t bring peace is not a goal that anybody wants to achieve.”

He continued: “Peace is the goal, whether it comes in the form of a two-state solution if that’s what the parties want or something else… We’re not going to dictate what the terms of peace will be.”

However, according to the Mail Online the US State Department have expressed surprise and said they were not aware of any policy shift on the commitment of the US to a two-state solution.

Netanyahu’s coalition is divided over the Palestinian question. Members of the Jewish Home party and Likud are pushing Netanyahu to renounce his support for a Palestinian state.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman believes Israel should seek recognition Israel’s main settlement blocks in return for Israel refraining from construction in more isolated settlements. The majority of setters live in these major blocks, which Israel would hope to keep in any future territorial arrangement.

Last night, Netanyahu discussed regional issues with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, during which he invited Tillerson to visit Israel, in order to establish direct contacts between the Secretary of State’s team and the Office of the Prime Minister.

Netanyahu is also set to have meetings with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.