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U.S. reiterates support to two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Xinhua, March 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United States on Monday reaffirmed its support to a two-state solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, saying it is in the best interest of the two peoples.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest reiterated the U.S. policy at a regular press briefing after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a Palestinian state would not be established if he is re-elected.

"Our policy is that we believe that the situation should be resolved with a democratic and Jewish state of Israel living side- by-side in peace and security with a sovereign state and contiguous Palestinian state," Earnest said.

Earnest added the U.S. will continue to work with the international community to achieve the two-state goal diplomatically.

Trailing in the polls ahead of an election, Netanyahu told an Israeli news website Monday, "I think that anyone who moves to establish a Palestinian state and evacuate territory gives territory away to radical Islamist attacks against Israel."

Asked directly whether no Palestinian state would be created under his leadership, the prime minister answered "Indeed."

The statement contradicts his 2009 Bar-Ilan speech, in which he expressed his support to a two-state solution to end the conflict with the Palestinians.

Earnest declined to directly comment on Netanyahu's assertion, saying that he avoids reacting to claims made by politicians on campaign trails.

In a speech to U.S. Congress on March 3, Netanyahu blasted the deal U.S. President Barack Obama is trying to hammer out with Iran over Tehran's nuclear program, which underscores a fundamental and cavernous gap between how he and the White House view troubles in the Middle East and how to solve them.

U.S. media reported that a Senate committee has launched a bipartisan probe into an American nonprofit's funding of efforts to oust Netanyahu after the State Department gave the nonprofit taxpayer-funded grants.

On Monday, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the department has seen the reports but has not been notified of the investigation. Endite