U.S. President Barack Obama had a telephonic conversation with re-elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. Obama reportedly talked about reassessing the U.S. approach on peace between Israel and Palestine.

While reports circulated about Netanyahu’s declaration before the election that he would never allow the establishment of a Palestinian state, the Israeli PM later said after that he was not against a two-state solution if conditions were right. Netanyahu said that a demilitarised state recognising a Jewish state was what he would like. "I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution, but for that circumstances have to change," he said.

According to White House spokesman Josh Earnest, Netanyahu’s pre-election comments raised questions about how committed he was to accept a two-state solution. He said that the United States was in a position to re-evaluate its thinking about the matter among a wide range of other issues.

The White House said in a statement on the phone call that the U.S. president "reaffirmed the United States' long-standing commitment to a two-state solution that results in a secure Israel alongside a sovereign and viable Palestine." Netanyahu earlier criticised the possibilities of a nuclear deal between Iran and the United States.

Obama, however, told Netanyahu in the phone call that the United States was focused on reaching “a comprehensive deal with Iran.” He said that the deal would assure the international community of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.

Obama called the newly re-elected Israeli Prime Minister and “emphasized the importance the United States places on our close military, intelligence, and security cooperation with Israel, which reflects the deep and abiding partnership between both countries,” according the White House statement.

According to a White House official, Obama also talked about Netanyahu's comments about Israeli Arabs before the election. The Israeli PM apparently tried motivating his voters to cast their votes by reminding them that Israeli Arabs were brought “in droves” to cast their votes. He added that his right-wing government was in danger due to a high turnout of Israeli Arab voters. The White House condemned the comment as “cynical.”

According to Earnest, the United State may not provide an automatic support to Israel at the United Nations. However, he stressed that the Obama administration had not made any policy decision yet.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au

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