US Examining Approach After Netanyahu Reverses Campaign Rhetoric

Uriel Sinai/Getty images(WASHINGTON) — The White House will continue to “reevaluate its approach,” despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempt Thursday to walk back his comments abandoning his commitment to a Palestinian state.

“This commitment to a two-state solution has been the bedrock of a lot of U.S. policy…Now the prime minister of Israel says earlier this week, days before an election, that this is a principle he no longer subscribes to, that his nation no longer subscribes to, that means the United States needs to rethink our approach,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Thursday at the daily briefing.

Netanyahu on Thursday seemed to walk back from what Earnest described as the prime minister’s “cynical election day tactic” to rail against Arab-Israelis.

“I don’t want a one-state solution,” Netanyahu told NBC’s Andrea Mitchell. “I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution.”

Despite these comments, Earnest said Netanyahu’s commitment to a two-state solution has been called into question.

President Obama still has not talked directly with Netanyahu since the election. Members of the administration are in touch with the prime minister’s team to schedule a phone call, which would take place as early as Thursday, Earnest said.

Earnest did not rule out that Obama could raise Netanyahu’s divisive rhetoric on the call.

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