This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-38989906

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Israel-Palestinian conflict: UN warns Trump over two-state reversal Israel-Palestinian conflict: US 'thinking outside box'
(about 3 hours later)
The UN chief has warned Donald Trump against abandoning the idea of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying there is "no alternative". The US ambassador to the UN has said her country "absolutely" supports the idea of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
It comes after Mr Trump went against decades of US policy, saying he would back whatever formula led to peace. But Nikki Haley also said the Trump administration was "thinking outside the box as well", suggesting it was open to other possible solutions.
Palestinians reacted with alarm to the possibility that the US could drop support for Palestinian statehood. For many years, the US has advocated the establishment of a Palestinian state next to Israel.
The last round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks broke down in 2014. But Mr Trump indicated on Wednesday he would not insist on that.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, President Trump promised to deliver a "great" peace deal.
Viewpoint - 'A subtle but vital shift in US policy'Viewpoint - 'A subtle but vital shift in US policy'
But he said both sides must compromise. The last round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks broke down in 2014.
"We absolutely support the two-state solution but we are thinking out of the box as well," Ms Haley said on Thursday, "which is - what does it take to bring these two sides to the table? what do we need to have them agree on?"
She spoke out after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned President Trump there was "no alternative" to a two-state solution.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a day earlier, Mr Trump promised to deliver a "great" peace deal for the Middle East.
But he said both sides must compromise and that it was ultimately up to them to decide how to settle the conflict.
"So I'm looking at two states and one state," he said. "And I like the one that both parties like.""So I'm looking at two states and one state," he said. "And I like the one that both parties like."
'Substance, not labels'
Following the news conference, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the international community to do everything it could to bring about a two-state solution.
He said there was no other option for resolving the conflict.
What is the two-state solution?What is the two-state solution?
A "two-state solution" to the decades-old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is the declared goal of their leaders and the international community.A "two-state solution" to the decades-old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is the declared goal of their leaders and the international community.
It is the shorthand for a final settlement that would see the creation of an independent state of Palestine within pre-1967 ceasefire lines in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, living peacefully alongside Israel.It is the shorthand for a final settlement that would see the creation of an independent state of Palestine within pre-1967 ceasefire lines in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, living peacefully alongside Israel.
The UN, the Arab League, the European Union, Russia and, until now, the US routinely restate their commitment to the concept.The UN, the Arab League, the European Union, Russia and, until now, the US routinely restate their commitment to the concept.
When he was asked about a two-state solution on Wednesday, Mr Netanyahu said he wanted to focus on "substance" and not "labels".When he was asked about a two-state solution on Wednesday, Mr Netanyahu said he wanted to focus on "substance" and not "labels".
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, said he remained committed to the goal. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, said he remained committed to the goal of statehood.
He also seized on President Trump's comments urging Mr Netanyahu to "hold back on settlements for a little bit".He also seized on President Trump's comments urging Mr Netanyahu to "hold back on settlements for a little bit".
Since Mr Trump took office last month, Israel has approved thousands of new homes in West Bank and East Jerusalem, land claimed by the Palestinians for a future state.Since Mr Trump took office last month, Israel has approved thousands of new homes in West Bank and East Jerusalem, land claimed by the Palestinians for a future state.
The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.
Alternative concepts to a two-state solution:Alternative concepts to a two-state solution:
Reconsidering the two-state solutionReconsidering the two-state solution
The Israeli government is hoping for better relations with the White House after eight years of friction with the former Obama administration.The Israeli government is hoping for better relations with the White House after eight years of friction with the former Obama administration.
At Wednesday's news conference, neither leader committed explicitly to back a future independent Palestine, a longstanding bedrock of US policy.
It was the US and Israeli leaders' first face-to-face meeting since Mr Trump's victory in the 2016 presidential election.
But France, which in January organised a multi-national conference which reaffirmed support for a two-state solution alone, seemed unimpressed with the apparent change in direction.But France, which in January organised a multi-national conference which reaffirmed support for a two-state solution alone, seemed unimpressed with the apparent change in direction.
Its ambassador to the UN, Francois Delattre, told reporters "our commitment to the two-state solution is stronger than ever", according to AFP news agency.Its ambassador to the UN, Francois Delattre, told reporters "our commitment to the two-state solution is stronger than ever", according to AFP news agency.
Regional media reaction: Refreshing or reckless?Regional media reaction: Refreshing or reckless?
In pro-Netanyahu Israeli daily Yisrael Hayom, Boaz Bismuth welcomes a "more refreshing era" in Washington, saying Mr Trump's comments show he is "good for the Jews."In pro-Netanyahu Israeli daily Yisrael Hayom, Boaz Bismuth welcomes a "more refreshing era" in Washington, saying Mr Trump's comments show he is "good for the Jews."
But Barack Ravid - in left-of-centre Ha'aretz - accuses Mr Trump of acting "recklessly" in apparently conflating the one state and two-state plans. But Barack Ravid - in left-of-centre Ha'aretz - accuses Mr Trump of acting "recklessly" in apparently conflating the one-state and two-state plans.
Shimon Schiffer - in centrist Yedioth Aharonoth - makes a similar point, saying Trump adopted the "tone of someone for whom it is not really important whether he orders a portion or half a portion of falafel." Shimon Schiffer - in centrist Yedioth Aharonoth - makes a similar point, saying Trump adopted the "tone of someone for whom it is not really important whether he orders a portion or half a portion of falafel."
For the pro-Fatah Palestinian newspaper al-Quds, Mr Trump has shown he is close to Israel's position, and that the two-state solution has "withered".For the pro-Fatah Palestinian newspaper al-Quds, Mr Trump has shown he is close to Israel's position, and that the two-state solution has "withered".
In Gaza's Hamas-run Filastin daily, Fayez Abu-Shammala says it is "wonderful" that the White House has shown its "real position" rather than acting as "an enemy pretending to be a friend". He adds that the "time for resistance has come".In Gaza's Hamas-run Filastin daily, Fayez Abu-Shammala says it is "wonderful" that the White House has shown its "real position" rather than acting as "an enemy pretending to be a friend". He adds that the "time for resistance has come".
Meanwhile, Mr Trump's choice for America's next ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, faces a rocky confirmation hearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, the Associated Press reports. Meanwhile, Mr Trump's choice for America's next ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, faced repeated heckling at his confirmation hearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday.
He apologised for having likened left-wing American Jews to Jewish prisoners who worked for the Nazis during the Holocaust and pledged that in an official capacity he would tone down his language.
The right-winger is a strong critic of the two-state solution, supports Jewish settlement building and moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.The right-winger is a strong critic of the two-state solution, supports Jewish settlement building and moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.
Five former US ambassadors to Israel have written a letter to committee members declaring him unqualified because of his "extreme, radical positions", AP says.Five former US ambassadors to Israel have written a letter to committee members declaring him unqualified because of his "extreme, radical positions", AP says.
Asked on Wednesday about his campaign promise of moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, Mr Trump said: "I'd love to see that happen." Asked on Wednesday about his campaign promise of moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, Mr Trump said: "We'll see what happens."
"And we're looking at it very, very strongly. We're looking at it with a great care, a great care, believe me. And we'll see what happens."
The Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of their promised future state - but Israel claims the entire city as its undivided capital.The Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of their promised future state - but Israel claims the entire city as its undivided capital.