(CNN)– A source told the network CNNIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned to US President Joe Biden, during a phone call on Friday, that the statements he made on Thursday, in which he appeared to reject the idea of establishing a Palestinian state, were not intended to rule out the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state in any way.
The source added that Biden and Netanyahu discussed the potential features of a future Palestinian state in a “detailed and serious” conversation.
The source added that Biden administration officials recently discussed the possibility of establishing a demilitarized Palestinian state in the future, an idea that Biden finds “interesting.”
Netanyahu said, in a press conference on Thursday, that “Israel needs security control over all the lands west of Jordan,” in any future arrangement reached after the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, and added that “this contradicts the idea of a Palestinian state.” “.
These statements were widely understood as a rejection of the idea of establishing a Palestinian state, the central element of the two-state solution to the conflict, which Biden has long supported and defended.
On Friday, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Biden conveyed “his vision for a more sustainable peace and security for Israel, fully integrated into the region, and a two-state solution while ensuring Israel’s security” to Netanyahu, during their first contact since December 23.
Kirby said that the US President “confirmed his strong conviction in the possibility of implementing the two-state solution, realizing of course that we will not get there tomorrow, and that there is an active conflict going on, and so we want to make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself.”
Sources told CNN that American officials will not allow Netanyahu’s clear rejection of the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state prevent them from pressuring their Israeli counterparts on this matter.
Kirby acknowledged the uphill battle facing a two-state solution in the region, and said that Biden “still believes in the promise of the possibility of a two-state solution,” but “realizes that it will take a lot of hard work.”
Kirby stressed that Biden is not overly optimistic without being realistic about the possibility of establishing an independent Palestinian state. “The hope is that when this conflict ends, we will be able to work in a cooperative way with the Israeli government and our counterparts in the region on good governance in Gaza, good governance that the president hopes will lead to a viable two-state solution,” he said.
He added: “He understands how difficult this is, and it is something he has been pushing for for a very long time. He knows that it will take dedicated leadership from all parties to make this happen, and that means continued engagement by his administration and the national security team. So, we will continue this work.”
Kirby did not reveal Netanyahu’s response to Biden’s statements, and referred questions regarding “the prime minister’s side of the conversation” to the Israelis.
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2024-01-20 00:59:59