In an interview on the MSNBC American television channel, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to retreat from his controversial rejection of the two-state solution during the last days of the election campaign.
“I don’t want a one-state solution. I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution. But for that, circumstances have to change,’’ he said, reiterating the same position in a later interview on Fox News.
He continued, “I haven’t changed my policy. I never retracted my speech in Bar Ilan University six years ago calling for a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes the Jewish state. What has changed is the reality….Abu Mazen, the Palestinian leader, refuses to recognize the Jewish State. He’s made a pact with Hamas that calls for the destruction of the Jewish State.’’
A day before election , Netanyahu, in an an interview, he answered “indeed” when asked to confirm that no Palestinian state would be established under his leadership.
The US adminsitration reacted with displeasure at Netanyahu’s pre-election comments with reported threats by the White House to withdraw US support for Israel at the UN and to “re-evaluate” its policy of vetoing Security Council resolutions calling for a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu originally broke with the Likud Party’s traditional ambivalence towards a Palestinian state in a speech at Bar-Ilan University, shortly after his election as Prime Minister for the second time in 2009.
There he looked forward to: “two free peoples living side by side in this small land, with good neighbourly relations and mutual respect, each with its flag, anthem and government, with neither one threatening its neighbour’s security and existence.” He also qualified that any Palestinian state would have to be demilitarised and would have to formally recognise Israel as a Jewish state.
The international community, including the US and the European Union, is committed to a two-state solution to the conflict.
A senior member of Likud and close ally of Netanyahu, Deputy Foreign Minister Tzachi Hanegbi said Thursday in an interview that the new government is willing to return to the negotiation table with the Palestinians.
“We would be delighted to renew the negotiations,” he said.
“We believe it is in the interest of both people– the Israeli and the Palestinian– to have a dialogue; to discuss our disputes; to try and find a common denominator in the issues that are so crucial to both people.”
He also said that the new government will begin an intense effort to renew the trust between the United States and Israel.
“We will make an effort, a very, very intimate and intense effort to renew the trust between the governments,” he said, adding that “it is essential for the security of Israel. It is essential for the survival of the state of Israel.”
An American Jewish organization welcomed Netanyahu’s clarification of his position on the two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
‘’It is unfortunate that in the immediate aftermath of Israeli polls closing we saw many in the media, in public office, and in our own community jump to conclusions about the policies of this new Israeli government,’’ said Abraham H. Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
‘’In light of the Prime Minister’s clarification, it is more important than ever to show respect and restraint to allow the Prime Minister to build his coalition and to publicly express his government’s policies regarding the Palestinians, the international community and other key issues,’’ he said.