"I don't want a one-state solution. I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution," Netanyahu said Thursday in an interview with MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell. "I haven't changed my policy."
But just days before, in an attempt to drive right-wing voters to the polls, Netanyahu said in an interview that there would not be a Palestinian state under his watch if he was reelected.
RELATED: Israel's PM Netanyahu: No Palestinian state on my watch
Asked by Israeli news site NRG on Monday if Netanyahu thought that there would never be a Palestinian nation formed while he's prime minister, Netanyahu responded, "Indeed." He also blasted the idea of a state given the security challenges facing Israel.
Netanyahu's comments Monday were seen a key part to his Tuesday election victory but also "raised significant concerns" with senior administration officials back in Washington, who saw ruling out a two-state solution as a significant setback for U.S.-Israel relations.
U.S. officials have said that they have been waiting to see if Netanyahu would stand behind his comments as he moves toward forming a governing coalition, and indicated that they would be reassessing the relationship if he maintained his firm opposition to a Palestinian state.
But on Thursday, Netanyahu said his comments were a reflection of changing conditions on the Palestinian side, pointing to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's pact to form a unity government with Hamas, which Israel, the U.S. and most European countries consider a terrorist organization. He put the onus on Palestinian leaders to create conditions favorable for peace.
"I'm talking about what is achievable and what is not achievable," Netanyahu said Thursday. "If you want to get peace, you've got to get the Palestinian leadership to abandon their pact with Hamas and engage in genuine negotiations with Israel."
Netanyahu said he supports the same conditions for negotiating a sustainable peace: a demilitarized Palestinian state whose leadership recognizes Israel as a Jewish state.
RELATED: U.S. could abandon Israel at the U.N.
Netanyahu also walked back another controversial campaign remark, when he urged his supporters to go out to counteract the effect of Arab voters who he said were rushing to the polls "in droves."
"I wasn't trying to suppress the vote...I was calling on our voters to come out," Netanyahu said. "I'm very proud to be the prime minister' of all Israel's citizens."
Netanyahu went on to point out that he drew support from "quite a few Arab voters" and spoke of the "free and fair elections" in Israel that aren't commonplace in the rest of the Middle East.
Netanyahu also deflected criticism from the Obama administration, which has said it was "deeply concerned" about Netanyahu's comments. Senior administration officials have also suggested that Netanyahu's comments on a Palestinian state during his campaign might prompt the U.S. to reconsider its defense of Israel at the United Nations.
The Israeli prime minister pointed to the "unbreakable bond" between the U.S. and Israel and downplayed strains in his personal relationship with President Barack Obama. He has not yet called Netanyahu to congratulate him on his visit, instead dispatching his secretary of state to do so on Wednesday.
"America has no greater ally than Israel and Israel has no greater ally than the United States," Netanyahu said. "We'll work together. We have to."
But just days before, in an attempt to drive right-wing voters to the polls, Netanyahu said in an interview that there would not be a Palestinian state under his watch if he was reelected.
RELATED: Israel's PM Netanyahu: No Palestinian state on my watch
Asked by Israeli news site NRG on Monday if Netanyahu thought that there would never be a Palestinian nation formed while he's prime minister, Netanyahu responded, "Indeed." He also blasted the idea of a state given the security challenges facing Israel.
Netanyahu's comments Monday were seen a key part to his Tuesday election victory but also "raised significant concerns" with senior administration officials back in Washington, who saw ruling out a two-state solution as a significant setback for U.S.-Israel relations.
U.S. officials have said that they have been waiting to see if Netanyahu would stand behind his comments as he moves toward forming a governing coalition, and indicated that they would be reassessing the relationship if he maintained his firm opposition to a Palestinian state.
But on Thursday, Netanyahu said his comments were a reflection of changing conditions on the Palestinian side, pointing to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's pact to form a unity government with Hamas, which Israel, the U.S. and most European countries consider a terrorist organization. He put the onus on Palestinian leaders to create conditions favorable for peace.
"I'm talking about what is achievable and what is not achievable," Netanyahu said Thursday. "If you want to get peace, you've got to get the Palestinian leadership to abandon their pact with Hamas and engage in genuine negotiations with Israel."
Netanyahu said he supports the same conditions for negotiating a sustainable peace: a demilitarized Palestinian state whose leadership recognizes Israel as a Jewish state.
RELATED: U.S. could abandon Israel at the U.N.
Netanyahu also walked back another controversial campaign remark, when he urged his supporters to go out to counteract the effect of Arab voters who he said were rushing to the polls "in droves."
"I wasn't trying to suppress the vote...I was calling on our voters to come out," Netanyahu said. "I'm very proud to be the prime minister' of all Israel's citizens."
Netanyahu went on to point out that he drew support from "quite a few Arab voters" and spoke of the "free and fair elections" in Israel that aren't commonplace in the rest of the Middle East.
Netanyahu also deflected criticism from the Obama administration, which has said it was "deeply concerned" about Netanyahu's comments. Senior administration officials have also suggested that Netanyahu's comments on a Palestinian state during his campaign might prompt the U.S. to reconsider its defense of Israel at the United Nations.
The Israeli prime minister pointed to the "unbreakable bond" between the U.S. and Israel and downplayed strains in his personal relationship with President Barack Obama. He has not yet called Netanyahu to congratulate him on his visit, instead dispatching his secretary of state to do so on Wednesday.
"America has no greater ally than Israel and Israel has no greater ally than the United States," Netanyahu said. "We'll work together. We have to."
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