Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is now visiting the United States, will separately meet US presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Sunday, campaign sources and Israeli officials said, Reuters reported.
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After an hourlong meeting at Trump Tower in New York, Trump’s campaign issued a statement saying the candidate described USA military assistance to Israel as an “excellent investment” for the United States and agreed with Netanyahu that Middle East peace can only be achieved when “the Palestinians renounce hatred and violence and accept Israel as a Jewish State”.
Hillary Clinton is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York City on Sunday evening.
“The Prime Minister presented to Mr. Trump Israel’s stance according to Israel’s security and its attempts to reach peace and stability in our region”, stated Netanyahu’s office.
But he has reason to press the candidates on issues critical to Israel in the final weeks of the campaign.
During the closed-door meeting, the campaign said that Trump agreed with Netanyahu that peace in the Middle East could only be achieved when “the Palestinians renounce hatred and violence and accept Israel as a Jewish State”.
Trump also repeated his pledge to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv if he’s elected to the White House. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and a close adviser to his presidential campaign, and Ron Dermer, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, were also on hand for the meeting, which comes the day before the first presidential debate, according to Israeli news outlet Haaretz.
“The prime minister’s instruction was clear – if we meet with one side, we must also meet with the other side”, a senior official said.
The meetings will also come after the US recently completed a 10-year, $38 billion military aid package for Israel.
“Mr. Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed at length Israel’s successful experience with a security fence that helped secure its borders”, continued the statement released by Trump’s campaign. They also discussed Iran, the conflict in Syria and other regional challenges, including her support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict negotiated by the two parties – not an outside organization like the U.N. Security Council.
Trump hesitated on that question when he was first asked about it back in December while speaking before the Republican Jewish Coalition, where the audience booed.
Netanyahu held a cordial meeting with incumbent President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the UNGA on Wednesday, during which he thanked the United States for a $38 billion military aid deal signed last week.
Donald Trump is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in NY.
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The meetings will also come after the USA recently completed a 10-year, $38 billion military aid package for Israel.
