Top Palestinian official: Trump committed to 2 states
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A senior Palestinian official says he is encouraged by early signs that the Trump administration remains strongly committed to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Jibril Rajoub says Monday that Trump made clear to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a recent phone call that he was his "strategic partner" in making a "real and serious" peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Trump campaigned on promises to depart from decades of American policy and signaled a much closer relationship with Israel than former President Barack Obama. He made no mention of Palestinian statehood and hinted toward much greater tolerance for Israeli West Bank settlement construction.
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But since taking office, Trump appears to have backpedaled. Rajoub says Trump's "America First" slogan also meant he would be less prone to supporting Israel by default.