US President Barack Obama on Tuesday refuted claims of a personal disagreement between himself and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Middle East peace process, saying that the two leaders simply differ on ideological grounds.
At a press conference, Obama said the current issue is how to resolve a complex political dispute that “has significant implications for the two countries and the region”.
During his recent election campaign, Netanyahu said that he opposed a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, though he backtracked after his election to a new term.
“Even if you accept the reversal, it’s hard to envision how to get to a secure Palestinian state and a fully recognised Jewish state of Israel,” Obama said.
“There still does not appear to be a prospect of a meaningful framework established that would lead to a Palestinian state,” he added.
The US president stressed that a two-state solution is the best way to maintain Israel’s security, however Netanyahu seem to have a different opinion.
In an earlier interview with the Huffington Post, Obama said he believed that Netanyahu does not support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state following the latter’s remarks during the Knesset elections.
Obama said that in light of Netanyahu’s position, the United States will have to re-evaluate its approach to the conflict.
Meanwhile, Obama stressed that his country will continue its military, security and intelligence cooperation with the Israeli government; however, he refused to pledge that the United States will obstruct Palestinian efforts at the United Nations.
On Monday, in a speech to J Street, an Israel advocacy group, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough called for the end of the Israel’s “50 year-occupation” of Palestine and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.
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