Benjamin Netanyahu

He echoed Netanyahu's argument that this would be a reward for terrorism, a reward for Hamas.

And he did so even as there is some polling that suggests that the American public is far more divided on this issue.

After two years of harrowing images of war from Gaza, more Americans are beginning to question unstinting support for the state of Israel, but not the president himself.

But as long as Trump continues to support Netanyahu, continues to stand behind him in his military campaign in Gaza, I think Netanyahu feels that he has the latitude and the license to be as aggressive as he needs to be.

Well, the U.S.

is so important because it still holds a veto in the United Nations Security Council.

So as long as the U.S.

is totally behind Israel, there is a limit to what the Palestinians can accomplish.

I think it's also widely understood that without U.S.

buy-in

the whole notion of a two-state solution really falls apart.

The U.S.

has always been viewed as the central player in the question of a peace settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

That hasn't changed in the last few years, even as these countries have moved toward recognizing Palestine.

So while it's a very positive step for the Palestinians, without the U.S.

joining in, it still has its limits.

And so you saw that critical American role on display just this past Monday, when President Trump welcomed Prime Minister Netanyahu back to the White House.

And I have just concluded an important meeting on many vital issues, including... They came out and faced the TV cameras and presented a plan for Gaza, a Trump plan to end the war in Gaza.

It called on Hamas to give up their weapons, return the hostages immediately.

They would have no future role in the governance of Gaza.