New Israeli FM disavows Annapolis process, US official reaffirms two-state solution

A senior US official accompanying president Barack Obama to the G20 summit in London made this remark Wednesday April 1, in response to a statement from Avigdor Lieberman on his first day as foreign minister. Lieberman stressed that the incoming Netanyahu government was not bound by commitments made at the US-sponsored 2007 Annapolis conference for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and was committed only to the Middle East road map.
The US official said: “It remains our view that a two-state solution… is in our interests and the region’s interests,” and went on to say: “We look forward to working with the new Israeli government and understand we will have frank discussions.”
President Obama earlier called Binyamin Netanyahu Wednesday with congratulations on his first day in office and reaffirmed the steadfast US commitment to Israel and its security. In their half-hour conversation, Obama said he looked forward to working closely with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government to address issues of mutual concern, including Iran and Arab-Israeli peace,” said the White House.
In his call to the new Israeli prime minister, Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin stressed his desire to strengthen ties with Israel and the importance of advancing peace and stability in the Middle East. He invited Netanyahu to visit Moscow.
In an interview with The Atlantic, Netanyahu said: The Obama presidency has two great missions: fixing the economy and preventing Iran from gaining nuclear weapons. Diplomacy and sanctions might work, he said, but if they don’t Israel might be forced to resort to a military strike on the Islamic republic’s nuclear installations.