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Obama reiterates positions on Mideast peace, nuke talks with Iran

Xinhua, March 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

President Barack Obama on Thursday spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about U.S. adherence to the policy of two-state solution and its insistence on nuclear diplomacy with Iran.

In a conversation over the phone, Obama congratulated the Israeli leader over his re-election in the just-concluded parliamentary elections and "emphasized the importance the United States places on our close military, intelligence and security cooperation with Israel, which reflects the deep and abiding partnership between both countries," the White House said in a statement.

Obama reaffirmed U.S. commitment to a two-state solution in its pursuit of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and reiterated his administration's goal of negotiating a comprehensive deal over Iran's controversial nuclear program.

The president and the premier are known to have had a tense relationship over the years, and relations between their government were brought to a new low lately as Netanyahu had tried to undermine Washington's nuclear talks with Iran by speaking to a joint session of U.S. Congress on the issue, voicing his opposition to a two-state solution and stating his intention to build thousands more of settler homes in East Jerusalem, in his last-ditch attempt to woo far-right voters.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest on Thursday once again criticized the premier's tactics, warning it could be "difficult" for Washington to keep opposing Palestinian statehood resolutions at the United Nations.

The Obama administration had stood behind Israel in opposing the Palestinian move to seek statehood through the world body, insisting the issue be resolved by negotiations.

The Palestinians are resorting again to the United Nations for statehood after the last round of nine-month peace talks brokered by the Obama administration collapsed in April last year.

"I don't want a one-state solution," Netanyahu told NBC on Thursday in his first interview after re-election. "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.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday that a two- state solution is not possible with Israel under Netanyahu's leadership.

In their phone conversation, Obama and Netanyahu agreed on continued consultations on the peace process and other regional issues, the White House said.

The U.S. and its so-called P5+1 partners -- Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany -- are meeting with Iran in the Swiss city of Lausanne for a new round of talks, as the deadline looms for a framework agreement by the end of this month. Enditem