White House Says President Biden Remains Open Minded Regarding Two-State Solution

PM Netanyahu welcomes President Biden's arrival in Israel. (Twitter/@netanyahu)

JAKARTA - United States President Joe Biden remains open-minded regarding the concept of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli crisis, even though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu objects to the concept of Palestinian sovereignty.

White House National Council spokesman John Kirby said, while acknowledging it would not be an easy path, President Biden said he was open-minded about the shape of a two-state solution.

In his statement to journalists, Kirby said that President Biden understands the "need for flexibility" when it comes to the format of an independent Palestinian state.

Hours after hanging up with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, President Biden referred to the possibility of a demilitarized Palestinian state while speaking to reporters at the White House, saying he believed "there is some type of two-state solution."

"There are a number of UN member countries that don't have their own militaries, a number of countries have limitations, so I think there is a way for this to work," said President Biden, reported by CNN, January 23.

However, PM Netanyahu rejected calls for Palestinian sovereignty on Saturday after talks with President Biden about the future of Gaza after the war.

PM Netanyahu said Israel's security needs were incompatible with the Palestinian State.

While this represents a break from President Biden's belief that a two-state solution is necessary, Kirby said the US president "has no illusions about how difficult it will be to achieve that goal, especially with the conflict going on in Gaza."

He said the administration would continue talks with the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority "in the hope that more progress can be achieved."

It is known that a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli crisis is not only being advocated by the United States. A number of Muslim-majority countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and countries in the Middle East, and a number of countries in Europe are pushing for a two-state solution with Palestinian independence.