BICOM

White House spokesperson, Jay Carney said yesterday that the White House is satisfied with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speech to a joint session of Congress and his commitment to a two-state solution with the Palestinians. Ben Rhodes, an aide to President Barack Obama, said yesterday that Netanyahu’s speech ‘reaffirmed the strength of the US-Israeli relationship’. He added that the US would not view Hamas as a partner for peace until it recognises Israel as a state.

Meanwhile, Nabil Abu Rudaineh, spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said that Netanyahu’s speech to Congress represented an obstacle for peace. The PA yesterday rejected Netanyahu’s speech and said that his policies would not lead to a peace deal. Senior Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat said that talking about peace under Netanyahu’s leadership is a waste of time. Erekat said that the speech proved that the Palestinians do not have a peace partner, and rejected Netanyahu’s call to dismantle the unity reconciliation government that includes Hamas.