committees which are already revealed how russia tried to influence the election, the scope of that review includes campaign communications with russian officials. effecte in fact -- one is those panels are both very theetive and limits opportunity for public televised hearings to air this out in a public setting. host: this is cristina marcos from the hill talking about the reaction into what michael flynn and other issues. you can find her reporting on the >> and, again, the senate democratic caucus, members of the senate democratic caucus will talk about trump officials interaction with russia. that's coming up at 11:30 eastern. we will have that live for you on c-span. right now, though, a discussion on the meeting taking place today between president trump and israel's prime minister

from this morning's "washington journal." guest: iran as well as peace with the palestinians and what that might look like and what a process toward peace might look like, those two issues seem at the top. host: as far as iran is concerned, what is the president -- what could the president might say or at least offer in terms of the israeli prime minister, will we hear from the prime minister himself? guest: when it comes to iranes that where there is broad consensus from the trump administration and the netanyahu government. they both agree that their activities have got to be

mitigated or stopped. and they agree that the iran nuclear deal, of course, is ultimately a bad deal for united states. they both seem to agree that in the short term the benefits of the deal should be taken advantage of. but on middle east peace, we are far from clear as far as the trump administration is going. they are laying out these broad ambitions for a peace process without specifying what that might look like and what an ultimate peace might look like. host: what has president trump expressed what he with a like to see as far as a two-state solution, peace with the palestinians, what is his thinking on this? guest: his thinking is evolving over time, i should say in a very short period of time. at first he said he wants the ultimate deal, of course, in the campaign. i was told by his senior officials two weeks ago that

the white house remains committed to a two-state solution, and as of last night, we were told that they are simply committed to peace and that might come in a form other than a two-state solution. they haven't specified what alternative there is to a two-state solution, and we're going to be listening for that specificity today. but we're not at all clear as to how they see that baring itself out. host: if you want to ask our guest about these topics, not only about the meeting itself but the larger issues at play ere, it's 202-748-8001 for our republicans. 202-748-8000 for our democrats. or independents, 202-748-8002.

you can also post at our twitter page@wj and our nambings.om/csp what can you describe the sentiment between the two countries? guest: well, the trump administration wants this to be a seamless vigil today. they want everyone to come away with images of president trump and prime minister netanyahu smiling and happy to rebooting the u.s.-israel relationship after what's been a rocky relationship between netanyahu and the former president. how far that goes is the real question when it comes down to policy disagreements that will invaryably come up over the next couple -- invariablely come up over the next couple months and even today when we

talk about settlement activity. obviously the trump administration already has said that such activity is unhelpful to their pursuit of peace which they now say is a high priority. so as much as these images of twhappy leaders will be a value to some, i would suggest, looking past those at where these policy disagreements are currently and where, you know, whertheir aides say there working to bridge some of those differences. host: so we probably expect a highly tailored or highly orchestrated event today as we see mbe apart from the meetings with the world leaders in the last few weeks? guest: melania tmp, the first lady, will be there to greet sarah netanyahu, whi i don't believe has happened yet in terms of heads of government visits. you will have guest book signing. you're going to have a joint press cference.

two hours of meetings. they will be working lunch. netanyahu is going to -- vice president pence is going to be joining them. there's going to be absolutely a major effort toake this appears as if there's no daightetween the two governments. host:s it complicated by the fact with the current politics going on with michael flynn, could that complicate today's meeting or at least today's events? guest: well, michael flynn was the point person for planning this meeting, and so absolutely there is that hole, if you will, because he was coordinating with israel's national surity advisor on the details of the meeting. the meetings are highly structured, keep in md. soe was going to usher leaders through each segment of the meeting and n that he's t there, we're not entirely sure who's taking that job. but generally speaking we know what the topics of conversation are going to be, and on iran,

which was his pet project, we think there's enough consensus in the west wing that his presence -- lack of presence is not going to be necessarily filled. host: let's hear from viewers. gregory, fort lauderdale, florida, you're on with michael wilner of "the injury use aluminum post." caller: good morning. i am a follower of "the jerusalem post". the two-stateolution has storically failed every time. rael disengaged from gaza. the gazan pal stillians who elected hamas. hamas promptly -- hit them with thousands of rkets and missiles.

and it seems like going back to 1948 the ratification of the statof israel -- the palestinians have just continued to use terror and mitary as a strategy. they have never really come to terms th the reality andhe perm nancy of the state of permanency with the state of israel. a two-state solution is t only thing. i say if you look back sce 1948, it has never worked. host: thank you, caller. guest: it's a gat question and really gets to the heart of this visit because what the trump administration is saying is we nt peace and we're not entirely sure that a two-state soluti is the -- is the guarantor of

that. there are israelis that will site gaza, lebanon, in terms of pulling out their security forces and what results is the militarization of these areas, whether it be hamas or hezbollah and they fear the same in the west bank. but, you know, one on the contrary could argue that these pullouts have been unilateral d they haven't been in conjunction with the international community or with a moderate palestinian force such as the palestinian authority controlled in the west bank. so what has been characterized as a two-state solution, more ecifically a comprehensive finastatus agreement resulting in t states, sovereign states living side by

side in peace and secity. and that sort of corehensive resolution hasn't been tested. there have been small initiatives that have been ined unilateral, that have been tested. you're right, those haven't worked but it's hard to say the two-state solution has failed because haven't seen it, we haven't seen it yet. host: for our independent line, indian bob, hello. caller: hello. mr. wilner, i heard that prime minister netanyahu is currently under investigation for corrtion in israel. what can you tell us about that? guest: well, so there are three different probes into the prime minister. one is on the state fds. another is on a deal on lebanese firm a

that was brokered by a family member of netanyahu. both of these are considered to by israeli police serious enough to consider recomnding an indictment? we'rnot entirely sure if that's going to come down. one of the reasons w netanyahu wanted this current trip scheduled at a different me was that he was also going to asia and he didn't want to beut of jerusalem for so long that he didn't have control over discussion and the investigation, if you will, into these different probes. an entitlement oiously would be very difficult for the prime in ter to survive while office even though there are

questions aso the veracity of these claims and whether or not th are, you know, of the magnitude to remove him. host: san antonio, texas, louise. you are on the phone with michael wilner. caller: mr. wilner, i wou just like israel to realize that the american people are getting tired of constantly supporting them. i feel like that we paid for that dome and now we're giving them another $38 billi. and i don't feel like he has given our country or our last president, you know, the gratitude and respect that he should have. and i think they need to realize that the american

people are hurting right now. and i don't agree with us borrowing money from china to be pouring it to israel when israel is not a poor country. and wish that would get relayed to them that a lot of american people are really getting tired of being raeli's private a.t.m. machine. anyway, that's my comment. thank you. guest: well, youaise a series of interesting points. defend the nature of u.s.-israel says nobody denies how large that sum ibut rael's security needs are disproportiona to its size and its people because of the region it lives in. the reason why the.s. and at vue sh ttdeifs

lely american. isra bei the only democrac in the middle east -- dle st -- as uniquely american. israel being the only democracy in the middle east. the obama administration argued we can provide these funds for short-term security and specific tactical needs, but israel's long-term security is best served by israel brokering a two-state solution with the palestinians. and so the americans have unique leverage over israel in this regard because some ways the guarantor of israeli security they can make that argument that, you know, we are investing in the long-term security of the state that we consider to be indispensible in the world order. and adjust -- a just state in

existence but we think in the long term in order to continue being a viable state and the state of israel that we have long supported, you need to broker peace. i think when it comes to iron dome, it's one of the most successful projects that the u.s. has ever invested in in terms of missile technology and in fact it's the only testing ground, really, for short-term rockets that we've ever seen. the u.s. saw that sort of technology in practice, and it turned out to be a very useful military experience for the united states as it worked. and last thing i'll just say, that the u.s. doesn't fund the

protection of israeli military assets with iron dome batteries. the u.s. only provides iron dome batteries or funds iron dome batteries that protect civilian areas that are under rocket attack. civilian areas under rocket attack. this is charles. caller: thank you for taking my call. i want to say is nobody -- bringsder of any country the bible into their conversation concerning the the world and i believe that everything that the what's going to happen in in this world is going bible through and the ays that every nation is going to be judged by our lord and they jesus christ by how israel.

he puts leaders in place and happen.things to whatever happens is going to bible. according to the just mentioned to your previous caller people support shared or their democratic values. obviously there's a lot of that in this country support israel because of caller just t your

said. for the u.s. to support israel. what makes the so 's real relationship that it bipartisan is eally is for fundamentally a alliance.trategic today serves of s an at least in the minds of many american leaders as a democratic ny ideals. >> when it comes to advisors on and middle east peace, who does president trump rely on? > that's evolving quickly as well. david freeman served as his jewish and israel advisor campaign.

a strong interest serious play for peace. bannon apparently has ecome one of his chief foreign policy advisors across the board this portfolio. host: carol, you're next. west virginia. morning.good 'm calling in i'm a life long

generational democrat. support israel and i don't believe that a two-state solution would be the answer palestinians just want israel.out they don't want it to exist. my support is for israel and i hope it continues to be that way hope we continue to protect israel. democracy. true i thank you gentlemen and i hope you have a great day. thank you for that. an ink that you raise important point which is that olling shows there are substantial portions of the palestinian population that two-state ve aa solution is actually the end to conflict.

there are of course those who say that a two-state solution require a right to return in ecess central homes modern day israel effectively cree eliteing two arab states. palestine. is a conception of a wo-state solution that does result in an end to all claims jewish state of israel

side.g side by the white now why house has reached out to palestinian leaders at all in the arger discussion of two-state solution or peace in the least? >> i do know that there was a here and n delegation that they were at least in touch administration. i know that they were trying to secure meetings but i'm not sure those meetings occurred. > let's hear from mario in tennessee. >> yes. everybody.ng to

no way that anybody can protect israel without having our military forces there to defend it but until you have two >> where somebody live one side r ide and when somebody crosses the border, you can take action. ou are never going to have there.over they don't want the people who out of the area.

but they get everybody from russia and poland and everybody else to live over there. thank you. there are two points there. americans tioned picking up their rifles and defending israel. one of the s that reasons that american military theys so important is that know that americans and no other actually send r oots and their own blood to defend israel. israelis will always have to defend themselves. and you raise the point they to continue taking palestinian land. i would characterize it this two camps in e moment.at the there's one that does want to settle.

historic west bank territory. they believe they have a ight to the man and that it's in israel's interest to it's foreign to american for that actually discussion but majority.the the israelis who don't want to ettle but argue that it has very little to do with the palestinians or settlements.

security. do with security.t sense of that's what scares the majority of israelis. settling that land but you're right that, that exists host: from massachusetts, brian, go ahead. for taking my ou call. get a little o detailed idea of what occurs with theesident speaks prime minister. i've seen the prime minister on television enough and i know bilingual in english nd so i'm wondering aside from

ress conferences, does the hebrew nister speak in yiddish with the president? in israel e's a joke bout netanyahu that he speaks better english than hebrew. he does speak hebrew. english staff speaks fluently. the inly his ambassador to united states. i'm pretty here sure. himself studied here. it's an english conversation. benefit.ly a huge

on this show i was as with -- when netanyahu was addressing a joint session of congress on iran to much fanfare and outrage. and he is a very eloquent speaker. no question about that. know what theally dynamic is going to be between netanyahu and trump. makes this rt what meeting so interesting. but ve known each other this is a whole different dynamic and especially now that going to be making an of trump on -- rather making n ask of netanyahu on settlements, we don't really know how that dynamic is going pushing h netanyahu back against trump. who knows what it's going to look lake. >> has the