Trump warns Israel its settlements complicating search for Middle East peace

US President Donald Trump has said Israel’s illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territories have "complicated" the so-called peace process and urged "care" over the issue. 

In an interview with Israel Hayom newspaper, Trump also said he did not believe the Israelis, as well as the Palestinians, were ready to make peace. 

Israel Hayom is owned by American Zionist billionaire Sheldon Adelson, a Trump supporter and a backer of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Asked by the daily when the US would present its peace plan, Trump said: "We will see what happens. Right now the Palestinians are not into making peace, they are just not into it. Regarding Israel, I am not certain it, too, is interested in making peace so we will just need to wait and see what happens." 

Asked whether Israeli settlements would form part of the peace plan, he said: "We will be talking about settlements. The settlements are something that very much complicates and always have complicated making peace, so I think Israel has to be very careful with the settlements." 

Trump’s comments about Israel mark rare criticism from a president who has adopted a hostile policy toward the Palestinians while forging close relations with Israel. 

About 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967 occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds. 

Palestinians want the West Bank as part of a future independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital. 

In December, Trump infuriated Palestinians with his decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's capital and relocate the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the holy city. 

The dramatic shift in Washington’s policy vis-à-vis the city triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Morocco, and other Muslim countries.