Obama: America will reassess Israel policy
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PRESIDENT Barack Obama has warned Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States will “reassess” its policies after the prime minister’s election win called into question crucial US diplomatic cover for Israel at the United Nations.
Two days after Netanyahu’s election victory, the White House said Obama called the Israeli leader on Thursday to congratulate him, though the message was lukewarm.
Obama warned that the veteran Israeli leader’s last-minute campaign pledge to oppose the creation of a Palestinian state and comments about Israeli Arabs voting in “droves” would force a rethink in Washington.
Obama called to congratulate Netanyahu “on his success in winning a plurality of Knesset seats,” the White House said.
“The president told the prime minister that we will need to reassess our options following the prime minister’s new positions and comments regarding the two state solution,” an administration official said.
“They also discussed Netanyahu’s comments about Israeli Arabs.”
Even as Netanyahu scrambled to deny he had ruled out the creation of a Palestinian state — long the starting point for Middle East peace efforts and a cornerstone of US policy — the White House indicated it could withdraw its unwavering support for Israel at the UN.
The US — a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council — has opposed moves at the UN to recognize a Palestinian state, saying that must be part of a negotiated peace deal. It has also shielded Israel from often Arab-led UN votes castigating the Jewish state for various actions, including alleged human rights abuses.
“Steps that the United States has taken at the United Nations had been predicated on this idea that the two-state solution is the best outcome,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.
“Now our ally in these talks has said they are no longer committed to that solution. That means we need to re-evaluate our position.”
Netanyahu on Thursday denied setting himself in opposition to decades of US policy by going back on his commitment to seeking a Palestinian state.
“I didn’t retract any of the things I said in my speech six years ago, calling for a solution in which a demilitarized Palestinian state recognizes a Jewish state. I said that the conditions for that, today, are not achievable,” he told Fox News.
Israel would “need the recognition of (a) Jewish state and real security in order to have a realistic two-state solution,” Netanyahu told NBC News.
The Palestinians would also need to cut ties with Hamas militants running the Gaza Strip and engage in “genuine” peace talks, he said.
His comments could have a lasting impact on efforts to end the Middle East conflict.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said it was clear a two-state solution would be impossible with a new government led by Netanyahu.
“Netanyahu’s statements against a two-state solution and against a Palestinian state ... are proof, if correct, that there is no seriousness in the (future) Israeli government about a political solution,” Abbas said.
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