"If I win, I'll let you know six months from the time I take office," Donald Trump told the AP. | AP Photo Trump: Mideast peace 'something I'd really like to do'

When it comes to the potential for a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians, Donald Trump says he would know whether it was possible within the first six months of his presidency.

"I have a real question as to whether or not both sides want to make it," the Republican candidate told The Associated Press in an extended interview published Thursday that touched extensively upon his propensity to say he would keep his cards close to the vest in any negotiation or planning, a common refrain from Trump when asked about policy specifics throughout the course of his campaign.


"A lot will have to do with Israel and whether or not Israel wants to make the deal — whether or not Israel's willing to sacrifice certain things," Trump said, in comments that raised eyebrows among conservatives. If it is not, he said, "I understand that, and I'm OK with that. But then you're just not going to have a deal."

"If I win, I'll let you know six months from the time I take office," the Manhattan business mogul told the AP, calling a deal to end the prolonged conflict "something I'd really like to do."

Striking a deal "would be a really great achievement," he said, remarking upon the dire situation of "so much death, so much turmoil, so much hatred."

He also indicated that he would travel to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "sometime after Christmas, probably," telling the AP that the trip was in the works before rival Ben Carson planned his excursion to a Jordanian refugee camp.

Asked specifics about his conditions for a deal, Trump declined. On whether he would advocate a two-state solution, for example, Trump said he was "not going to even say that."

"I'm leading in every single poll in every single state, in every single national poll," Trump said of his understanding of the complexities. "I could be in a position where I want to negotiate that."

The interview came before Trump and 13 of his fellow Republican candidates addressed the Republican Jewish Coalition in Washington on Thursday. Trump told the crowd he would be "the best guy for Israel," reiterating his intention to achieve a peace deal with the Palestinians within "six months." But the audience grew silent when he said, “I don’t know that Israel has the commitment to make it."

Following his speech, the Manhattan mogul was challenged during a question-and-answer session about his positions.

At one point, at least one member in the crowd began to boo when he declined to say whether he would move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but he received a mostly standing ovation as he departed.