US President Donald Trump called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "hold off on settlements a bit" and said Israelis ‘’are going to have to show some flexibility,’’ at a joint press conference at the White House in Washington.

The US president repeatedly emphasized his interest in brokering a peace deal that would genuinely end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. He said such a deal was personally important to him, and that he planned to work "very, very diligently" toward an agreement.

"Both sides will have to make compromises— you know that, right?," Trump asked Netanyahu, who joked of Trump's knowledge of the art of the deal, saying "we'll talk."

Trump and Netanyahu agreed that a deal would likely incorporate participation from the wider Arab world.

But Trump refused to explicitly endorse the two-state solution as the only possible arrangement.

“I’m looking at two states and one state, and I like the one that both parties like,” he said.

"Both sides will have to make compromises— you know that, right?," Trump asked Netanyahu, who joked of Trump's knowledge of the art of the deal, saying "we'll talk."

Netanyahu repeated his belief that settlement activity is not core to the conflict. But he did acknowledge "it's an issue," and said he would work with Trump in meetings today on mechanisms to avoid repeated confrontations over construction.

He declined to repeat his endorsement of a two-state solution when pressed by Israeli journalists.

The Israeli premier repeated his long-held demands to the Palestinians, including recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and demilitarization.

“Not only have I not abandoned these prerequisites of peace, but they have gotten stronger,” he said, asserting the Jewish historical right to the West Bank while accusing the Palestinians of glorifying terrorism.

“We have to look at new ways” to reach peace, he said, and called for a “regional” approach that included Arab states. Netanyahu noted that he would discuss such an initiative with Trump.