US President Donald Trump criticized the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories for the first time since becoming president on January 20.

Trump told Israel Today newspaper: “There is limited remaining territory. Every time you take land for a settlement, less territory remains. I’m not someone who believes that advancing settlements is good for peace. But we are examining a number of options.”

Trump’s statements come a few days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves for Washington to meet with the US president on Wednesday.

Responding to the question of whether his administration would criticize Israel, he said: “Israel has a long history of condemnations and difficulties. I don’t want to condemn Israel during my term. I understand Israel very well and have a lot of appreciation for it. Israelis have gone through very difficult times.”

“I want peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and beyond that I think peace for Israel will be great for Israel, not just good,” he added.

On whether the Palestinians must make concessions in order for there to be a good deal, he said, “Yes of course, but no deal is a good deal if it isn’t good for all sides,” he said.

“We are currently in a process that has been going on for a long time. Decades. A lot of people think that it can’t be done. And a lot of smart people around me claim that you can’t reach an agreement. I don’t agree. I think we can reach an agreement and that we need to reach an agreement,” he said.

Trump also called on both the Palestinian and Israeli side to “act reasonably”.

On the question of moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the American president said: “I’m thinking about it. I’m learning the issue and we’ll see what happens.”

“It’s not an easy decision. It’s been discussed for so many years. No one wants to make this decision, and I’m thinking about it seriously.”

(MEMO, PC, Social Media)