In his first interview since re-election, in a process that has angered the Obama administration and many others, the premier told the NBC TV network that "There are so many areas that we must work together, will work together with the United States, and with the president."
"Because we have no other alternative. We're allies, we have to consult each other," he declared, adding "America has no greater ally than Israel and Israel has no greater ally than the United States."
US-Israeli relations were brought to a new low lately as Netanyahu had tried to undermine US nuclear diplomacy with Iran by speaking to a joint session of US Congress on the issue, voicing his opposition to a two-state solution with the Palestinians and stating his intention to build thousands more of settler homes in East Jerusalem, in his last-ditch attempt to woo far-right voters.
The White House on Wednesday criticized Netanyahu over his campaign rhetoric, including that seeking to marginalize Arab- Israeli citizens, and indicated a possible change in US handling of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
"In the context of the recent election, Prime Minister Netanyahu indicated a change in his position," spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters Wednesday. "And based on those comments, the United States will evaluate our approach to the situation moving forward."
"I don't want a one-state solution," Netanyahu told NBC. "I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution, but for that circumstances have to change."
"In any case, if you want to get peace, you've got to get the Palestinian leadership to abandon their pact with Hamas and engage in genuine negotiations with Israel for an achievable peace," he added.
The last round of nine-months peace talks brokered by the Obama administration collapsed in April last year, with the Palestinians resorting again to the United Nations for statehood.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that a two- state solution is not possible with Israel under Netanyahu's leadership.
Source:Xinhua
globaltimes.cn
20/2/15
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Republican John Boehner, the speaker of the US Congress and an ardent backer of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will visit Israel at the end of this month, diplomatic sources said on Friday.
ReplyDeleteThe visit will follow Netanyahu's surprise election victory this week and his speech to Congress earlier this month on Boehner's invitation, an event that aggravated the White House and drew sharp criticism.
The date of his visit with a Congressional delegation has not been fixed but it will happen before the end of March, diplomats said............http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/US-Congress-speaker-Boehner-to-visit-Israel-this-month-394568
20/3/15