The White House Emphasizes Again the Formation of an Independent Palestinian State

The White House announced that following Benjamin Netanyahu's victory in the Israeli elections, the United States is seeking a better way to resolve the crisis between Israel and the Palestinians. Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, stated on Wednesday, March 18, that President Barack Obama still believes that the best solution to the Israel-Palestine crisis is for the Palestinians to have an independent state. According to the Associated Press, he added that, in light of Netanyahu's recent statements, the U.S. will reconsider its approach to this solution. Netanyahu changed his previous position on the two-state solution before the elections on Tuesday, declaring his opposition to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Earnest mentioned that Obama will soon contact Netanyahu to congratulate him on his electoral victory. He also noted that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has congratulated Netanyahu by phone. In the Israeli parliamentary elections, Netanyahu's Likud party secured 30 seats (24% of the votes) and won the elections. Following Likud, the Zionist Union party led by Isaac Herzog captured 24 seats (about 19% of the votes) and came in second. Earnest made these remarks during a conversation with reporters traveling with the U.S. President to Cleveland, Ohio, to participate in an event focused on American manufacturing. Meanwhile, Reuters reported on Wednesday that the White House expressed deep concern over "divisive statements" made during the Israeli elections aimed at undermining the status of Arab-Israeli citizens. Netanyahu stated on election day that leftist parties were trying to mobilize Arab-Israeli voters against him. Josh Earnest mentioned that the White House will directly communicate its concerns regarding this issue to Israeli officials. Reuters also added that the United Nations has stated it expects Israel to continue the Middle East peace process and pursue negotiations for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state following Netanyahu's victory in the parliamentary elections. These statements come after Netanyahu announced during the final days of his election campaign that he would not allow any independent Palestinian state to be established during his premiership. He also promised to continue settlement construction in the occupied territories. Farhan Haq, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, welcomed the preliminary results of the Israeli elections and expressed hope that the new Israeli government would be formed quickly. He stated in a conversation with reporters that the new Israeli government, once formed, should actively engage with the international community to create conditions for a final peace agreement with the Palestinians, an agreement that would end Israeli occupation and realize the plan for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. He added that Israel should also stop "illegal settlement construction" in the occupied territories. Palestinians seek to establish an independent state in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Israel occupied East Jerusalem in the 1967 war. Haq emphasized that the UN Secretary-General firmly believes that this is the best and only way for Israel to remain a democratic state. Ban Ki-moon again urged Israel to resume the process of transferring tax revenues to the Palestinians. Israel halted the transfer of Palestinian tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority in retaliation for Palestinian efforts to join the International Criminal Court.