White House: US 'to re-evaluate' backing for Israel at UN

The White House on Thursday raised the prospect of withdrawing crucial diplomatic cover for Israel at the United Nations, following Benjamin Netanyahu's divisive election victory.

Angered by Netanyahu's shock campaign pledge to block the creation of a Palestinian state, the White House warned the foundation of its policy for backing Israel had been undermined.

The United States - a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council - has frequently opposed moves at the UN to recognise a Palestinian state.

"Steps that the United States has taken at the United Nations had been predicated on this idea that the two-state solution is the best outcome," said spokesman Josh Earnest. 

"Now our ally in these talks has said that they are no longer committed to that solution. That means we need to re-evaluate our position in this matter, and that is what we will do moving forward."

Prior to Tuesday’s vote in Israel Netanyahu was asked by the right-wing NRG website if it was true that there would be no Palestinian state established if he was re-elected as premier. 

He answered: "Indeed."

“I think that anyone who moves to establish a Palestinian state and evacuate territory gives territory away to radical Islamist attacks against Israel,” Netanyahu told NRG. “The left has buried its head in the sand time after time and ignores this, but we are realistic and understand.”

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat told AFP after Netanyahu's comments on turning away from a two-state solution they would "speed up, pursue and intensify" diplomatic efforts aimed at winning international recognition. 

The White House said that no policy decisions had yet been made, but sharply noted that US decisions in the past had "protected Israel from isolation in the international community."

The White House also gave short shrift to Netanyahu's attempt to walk back his remarks in a series of US television interviews on Thursday.

"What is apparent is that in the context of the campaign, and while he was the sitting prime minister of Israel, he walked back from commitments that Israel had previously made to a two-state solution," Earnest said.

President Obama, who already had cool relations with his Israeli counterpart even before his remarks about Palestine, called Netanyahu on Thursday and congratulated him on his election result.

An official "read-out" from the call said Obama had "reaffirmed" the US commitment to a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine.

Washington has been frustrated by Netanyahu's support for settlement building and a speech to the US Congress aimed at killing a nascent nuclear deal with Iran, which Obama supports.

Netanyahu responded to the White House comments by saying a peace agreement can't be "imposed" on Israel.

“I hope that’s not true," he told Fox News, when asked about the US re-evaluating its support for Israel at the UN. “I think President Obama has said time and time again – as I’ve said – that the only path to a peace agreement is an agreement, a negotiated agreement. You can’t impose it.”

“You can’t force the people of Israel – who have just elected me by a wide margin to bring them peace and security – to accept terms that would endanger the very survival of the state of Israel.”

“I don’t think that’s the direction of American policy. I hope it’s not.”

The Israeli premier told Fox News his position on the two-state solution had not changed, despite him having said he would oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state in his election campaign.

"I didn't retract any of the things I said in my speech six years ago, calling for a solution in which a demilitarised Palestinian state recognises a Jewish state. I said that the conditions for that, today, are not achievable," he said.

Netanyahu accused Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of rejecting "the acceptance of a Jewish state. He's made a pact with the Palestinian terrorist organisation, Hamas, that calls for our destruction."

On Thursday “several” Obama administration officials told the New York Times the US may agree to a UN Security Council resolution that lays out the principles of a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 lines between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, supplemented by agreed land swaps.

The US has previously opposed any such resolution at the UN.