Israelis say Trump is 'so weird' he just might have a peace plan 'crazy enough to work'

Trump and Netanyahu speak at the White House earlier this year.

(Image credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

last updated 22 May 2017

When President Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in February, he promised to be the architect of a peace deal between Israel and Palestine that had the potential to be "bigger and better deal than people in this room even understand." Netanyahu was visibly skeptical: "Let's try," he told the president.

"That doesn't sound too optimistic," Trump noted.

But as Trump arrives in Israel hoping to make good on his promises, some Israelis told The Washington Post that they're cautiously hopeful he could make headway where his predecessors failed. "I don't think anyone can fix whatever is wrong here, but [Trump] is so weird that he just might have something," said one Jewish Israeli, Noga Perry. "I have no way of knowing what the hell he will do … but maybe he will have something that is crazy enough to work."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.

Subscribe to The Week

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox