Israeli defense chief shrugs off Trump's remark on 2 states
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, at U.N. Headquarters. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Israel's defense minister has expressed indifference to President Donald Trump's backing of a two-state solution for the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
Avigdor Lieberman says a Palestinian state "simply doesn't interest me." He says the Israeli interest is "a safe Jewish state."
He says: "Everything else interests us less."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Trump at the United Nations on Wednesday for the first time said publicly that he believes two states — one for Israel and one for the Palestinians — "works best."
Trump has previously been vague, suggesting he'd support whatever the parties agree to, including possibly a one-state solution.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has in the past reluctantly accepted the concept of Palestinian statehood but has since backtracked. A top coalition partner is threatening to topple his government if it returns to the agenda.