President Donald Trump addressed reporters in the Oval Office on Monday afternoon, discussing various topics, including Israel and the likelihood of a ceasefire in the region being maintained.
When asked about a potential Israeli annexation of Judea and Samaria, referencing a past comment he made about Israel’s geographic size, Trump chose not to respond directly. Instead, he remarked, “It certainly is a small country in terms of land.” He illustrated Israel’s limited size in comparison to surrounding nations by gesturing with his pen.
“It’s a pretty small piece of land, and it’s amazing that they’ve been able to do what they’ve been able to do when you think about it. There’s a lot of good, smart brainpower, but it is a very small piece of land,” he elaborated.
Reporters also questioned him about the chances of the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas holding. Trump offered a cautious response: “I have no assurances that it will hold. I’ve seen people brutalized, nobody’s ever seen anything like it. No, I have no guarantees that the peace is going to hold.”
He deferred to his Middle East Envoy, Steve Witkoff, who provided a more optimistic outlook. “It’s holding so far and we’re certainly hopeful. That’s the President’s direction: get the hostages out, save lives, and come to hopefully a peaceful settlement. So far it’s holding,” Witkoff stated.
President Trump is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Tuesday. This meeting, the first with a foreign leader since Trump’s inauguration, will focus on several key issues, including advancing negotiations on the next phase of the hostage agreement.
{Matzav.com}