Trump, top aides asked Netanyahu to change West Bank policy

U.S. President Donald Trump and his top advisers asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to change Israel's policies in the occupied West Bank during their meeting on Monday, Axios reported citing a U.S. official and another source, both with direct knowledge.

According to Axios, the U.S. official said the White House thinks a violent escalation in the West Bank would undermine efforts to implement the Gaza peace agreement and prevent the expansion of the Abraham Accords before the end of Trump's term.

Trump and his team expressed concern about the situation in the West Bank and asked Netanyahu to avoid provocative steps and "calm things down," the sources told Axios.

Netanyahu agreed to move toward the second phase of the Gaza deal, even though he has been at odds with Trump's team about its implementation, according to the sources.

He also accepted Trump's request that he resume talks with the Syrian government over a potential security pact.

"We have had a discussion, big discussion, for a long time on the West Bank. I wouldn't say we agree on the West Bank 100%, but we will come to a conclusion on the West Bank," Axios quoted Trump as saying during a press conference with Netanyahu after their meeting.

The U.S. president and his team raised settler violence against Palestinian civilians, the financial instability of the Palestinian Authority, and Israeli settlements expansion, the sources said, according to the report. 

The U.S. message was that changing course in the West Bank is critical to repair Israel's relations with European countries and, hopefully, expand the Abraham Accords.

"Netanyahu spoke very strongly against settler violence and said he is going to take more action," the source with knowledge said.