[IMRA: Netanyahu said that given the reality of the situation there would
not be a Palestinian state in the next 4 years]
US ambassador to Israel 'confused' by Netanyahu's statements on Palestinian
state
Dan Shapiro said that the US has no choice but to reexamine its policy
towards Israel after comments made by Netanyahu at the end of his campaign
differed from Israel's former stance on the two-state solution.
Ynet
Published: 03.22.15, 12:33 / Israel News
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4639609,00.html

US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said on Sunday that in light of Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent comments denouncing his support for a
Palestinian state, the US has no choice but to examine its next steps when
it comes to its policy towards Israel: "This was not Israel's stance until
those comments. It is confusing and raises doubts regarding Israel's true
stance.

"The question we are still focusing on is how to progress towards the
solution of two states for two nations," Shapiro said in an interview with
Army Radio.

Shapiro's comments came the morning after President Barack Obama said he did
not believe Netanyahu supports the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Obama was referring to comments made by Netanyahu during the last few days
of his election campaign in which he hard-lined his position and said that
there would be no Palestinian state if he were to be elected Prime Minister.

But the day after the elections, after his party secured 30 seats in the
20th Knesset, Netanyahu was quick to backtrack on his statement, telling NBC
that he did want a "sustainable, peaceful two-state solution" but that the
current situation does not allow for that to happen.

"I haven't changed my policy. I never retracted my speech in Bar-Ilan
University six years ago calling for a demilitarized Palestinian state that
recognizes the Jewish state," he said.

Obama said he told Netanyahu during their phone conversation on Thursday
that "a two-state solution is the only way for a long-term security of
Israel if it wants to stay both a Jewish state and democratic," noting that
"given his (Netanyahu's) statement prior to the election, it is going to be
hard to find a path where people are seriously believing negotiations were
possible."