Clinton, Trump buff foreign policy bona fides on debate eve

During the meeting that lasted more than an hour at Trump Tower in New York, Trump told Netanyahu that under his administration, the United States would “recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet separately with American presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in NY on Sunday, an official in his office said.

Clinton, the Democratic nominee, talked with Netanyahu during a closed-door meeting at the W Hotel in Union Square.

Trump said “peace will only come when the Palestinians renounce hatred and violence and accept Israel as a Jewish State”, the campaign said in its statement. “The topics of military assistance, security and regional stability were addressed”.

The topics of military assistance, security and regional stability were addressed, it said in a statement and added that the USA under a Trump administration will accept the long-standing Congressional mandate to recognise Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel.

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton waves as she boards her campaign plane at the Westchester County airport in White Plains, New York, Sept. 21, 2016. The status of Jerusalem is a highly contentious issue between Israelis and Palestinians.

Trump hesitated on that question when he was first asked about it back in December while speaking before the Republican Jewish Coalition, where the audience booed.

Trump reportedly considered a visit to Charlotte on Tuesday but has also chose to delay it.

At the time, Trump had said he would wait to answer until he met with Netanyahu.

In particular, Trump noted Israel’s emergence as a world leader in cyber defence and security and its cooperation with the United States in this regard. Netanyahu and Obama ended their meeting on an amicable note after a tense seven year relationship marred by disagreements over issues such as Iran’s nuclear deal and the Middle East peace process, matters that the victor of the November presidential election will likely grapple with.

Clinton campaign staffers say she is cramming on a thick portfolio of information that has been compiled after months of research on Trump.

Reporters were barred from covering either meeting.

The Israeli leader has sought to project neutrality this time after perceptions arose that he favored Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama in 2012. Their relationship soured further as the US pursued negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. Clinton has underscored her deep familiarity with foreign policy from her years as secretary of state.

Clinton and Netanyahu discussed the recently-signed U.S. -Israel defense Memorandum of Understanding to “strengthen the defense and intelligence relationship and work closely with Israel to ensure Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge”, according to a senior Clinton campaign aide. Haaretz cites aides to the prime minister who say that Netanyahu chose to go to the candidates instead of inviting them to come to him given the constraints on their schedule in preparing for the first presidential debate on Monday night.