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Israeli PM on ties with U.S. and talks with Palestinians

Xinhua, March 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday spoke of "unbreakable bond" between his country and the United States and challenged the Palestinians to engage in "genuine" negotiations with Israel.

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."

U.S.-Israeli relations were brought to a new low lately as Netanyahu had tried to undermine U.S. nuclear diplomacy with Iran by speaking to a joint session of U.S. 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 U.S. 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. Endite