During a press briefing senior administrative officials from the White House held with members of the media late on Thursday afternoon, U.S. time, it was revealed that there will be no negotiated two state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Arab people.
The three senior administrative officials on the call were Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes, NSC coordinator for the Middle East Rob Malley, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro.
The reason the briefing was held was to prepare for the meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama, which will take place Monday morning, Nov. 9.
The administration officials revealed the various topics they expected the two heads of state would discuss, including the recently concluded Nuclear Iran Deal, the situation in Syria and the recent deployment there by foreign nationals including Iran and Russia, and Israeli relations with its Palestinian Arab neighbors in Gaza and Judea and Samaria.
But the big news was what the administration officials referred to as the “New Reality” between Israel and the PA, the increased tensions and violence, which makes clear that there will be no final status negotiations between the parties any time during the remainder of the Obama administration.
Of course the administration officials continued to insist that the Two State Solution is the only viable option open to the parties. They made clear that “settlement building complicates the achievement of a viable Palestinian State,” and that the U.S. government continues to view such activity as not constructive.
Administration officials made clear that acting Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has been chided for continuing to engage in incitement to violence, and that Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to engage in confidence building measures to leave open the promise of a Palestinian State.
Several reporters asked for details about the anticipated Memorandum of Understanding regarding military aid from the U.S. to Israel. Expectations were dampened when the officials stated the discussion Monday morning would just be the beginning and not the end of that negotiation.
The U.S. officials also rebuffed several questions about a recent hire by the Israeli government who had posted unsavory comments about U.S. officials. They suggested it was a decision for the Israeli government and the U.S. president would not be reduced to questioning personnel decisions by other nations.
The strongest recurring theme from the officials was that Iran remains a dangerous player in the region and that is why it was essential that the Nuclear Iran Deal be concluded, so that such a dangerous player would not have nuclear weapons at its disposal.
But the big news was: No Two State push for the remainder of President Obama’s term.