--- title: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Obama Spokesman Knocks Netanyahu Remarks description: Obama spokesman says the U.S. will have to "re-asses its options" after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rhetoric on the two-state solution canonical: https://time.com/3753050/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-barack-obama/ author: Sam Frizell article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-03-20T21:37:33.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:40:58.089Z article:section: Politics og:title: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Obama Spokesman Knocks Netanyahu Remarks og:description: Obama spokesman says the U.S. will have to "re-asses its options" after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rhetoric on the two-state solution og:url: https://time.com/3753050/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-barack-obama/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9e51f6aa81456db5/69878496524fc00c27decffc/netanyahu4.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4464 og:image:height: 2511 og:image:alt: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference in Washington on March 2, 2015. og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Obama Spokesman Knocks Netanyahu Remarks twitter:description: Obama spokesman says the U.S. will have to "re-asses its options" after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rhetoric on the two-state solution twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9e51f6aa81456db5/69878496524fc00c27decffc/netanyahu4.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # White House Questions Israeli Leader's Commitment to Peace > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. 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A Message From The White House 3/19/2015_ by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Mar 20, 2015 9:37 PM UTC  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference in Washington on March 2, 2015. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference in Washington on March 2, 2015. Pablo Martinez Monsivais—AP by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Mar 20, 2015 9:37 PM UTC The White House [expressed doubt](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/21/world/middleeast/white-house-antagonism-toward-netanyahu-grows.html) Friday about Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, after Netanyahu [twice reversed his stance this week](http://time.com/3751454/netanyahu-wants-two-state-solution/) before and after [a bitter election fight](http://time.com/3749912/benjamin-netanyahu/). “The divergent comments of the Prime Minister legitimately call into question his commitment to this policy principle and his lack of commitment to what has been the foundation of our policy-making in the region,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in comments reported by the New York [_Times_](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/21/world/middleeast/white-house-antagonism-toward-netanyahu-grows.html). Netanyahu, Earnest said, had raised questions about his “true view” on a two-state solution. “Words matter,” Earnest said. Ahead of elections this week in which it appeared Netanyahu was close to being unseated, the Prime Minister said there would be no Palestinian state if he were reelected, changing a position he had taken years earlier. He then retracted his comments later in the week. For the United States, a Palestinian state alongside Israel has been a central element of Middle East policy, and Netanyahu’s comments soured an already tenuous relationship with the White House and with President Obama. Earnest called on Friday for a “careful reassessment of our decision-making moving forward when it comes to Mideast policy.” Friday was the second day in a row the White House has expressed anger at Netanyahu’s comments. On Thursday, Obama [told](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/20/world/middleeast/israel-netanyahu-elections-palestinian-state.html) Netanyahu that the United States would have to “re-assess our options” after the Prime Minister’s comments on the two-state solution. ### Scenes from Election Day in Israel  An Israeli soldier casts his ballot for the parliamentary election behind a mobile voting booth in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Migdalim, near Ariel, March 17, 2015. Amir Cohen—Reuters  An Israeli soldier carries a mobile ballot box at a border police base in the West Bank near Nablus March 17, 2015. Amir Cohen—Reuters  A woman waves an Israeli national flag outside a polling station in Tel Aviv, March 17, 2015. Baz Ratner—Reuters  Voters wait in line to vote at a polling station for the Israeli general elections in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba, near Hebron,March 17, 2015. Abir Sultan—EPA  Ultra-Orthodox Jews line up to vote in Bnei Brak, March 17, 2015. Oded Balilty—AP  Ultra-Orthodox Jewish rabbi Gershon Edelstein prepares to vote in Bnei Brak, March 17, 2015. Oded Balilty—AP  An ultra-Orthodox Jewish couple prepare to vote in Bnei Brak, March 17, 2015. Oded Balilty—AP  A ultra-Orthodox Jewish man casts his ballot for the parliamentary election at a polling station in Jerusalem March 17, 2015. Ronen Zvulun—Reuters  An election campaign billboard shifts between images of Israel's Labor Party leader Isaac Herzog, left, and Likud Party leader and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, March 15, 2015. Oded Balilty—AP Obama also appealed on Friday to Iranian youth, urging them to pressure their leaders to accept a deal over the country’s nuclear program, a deal Netanyahu opposes even as Iranian and western negotiators are still hammering out the details. The video marked the occasion of the Persian New Year, Nowruz, a celebration that Obama has used in the past to deliver message to the Iranian populace. “For decades our nations have been separated by mistrust and fear,” Obama said. “A nuclear deal now can help open the door in the future for you, the Iranian people.” _\-Additional reporting by Maya Rhodan_ ## Transcript Hello. To everyone celebrating Nowruz, across the United States and in countries around the world, Nowruz Mubarak. For thousands of years this has been a time to gather with family and friends and welcome a new spring and a new year. Last week, my wife Michelle helped mark Nowruz here at the White House. It was a celebration of the vibrant cultures, food, music and friendship of our many diaspora communities who make extraordinary contributions everyday here in the United States. We even created our own hot scene representing our hopes for the New Year. This year, that includes our hopes for progress between the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the international community, including the United States. So I want to take this opportunity once again to speak directly to the people and leaders of Iran. As you gather around the nowruz table, from Tehran, to Shiraz, to Tabriz. From the coasts of the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf. You're giving thanks for your blessings and looking ahead to the future. This year we have the best opportunity in decades to pursue a different future between our countries. Just over a year ago, we reached initial understanding regarding Iran's nuclear program. And both sides have kept our commitments. Iran has halted progress in its nuclear program and even rolled it back in some areas. The international community, including the United States, has provided Iran with some relief from sanctions. Now our diplomats and our scientists are engaged in the negotiations in the hopes of finding a comprehensive solution that resolves the world's concerns with Iran's nuclear program. The days and weeks ahead will be critical. Our negotiations have made progress but gaps remain. And there are people in both our countries and beyond who oppose a diplomatic resolution. My message to you, the people of Iran, is that together we have to speak up for the future we seek. As I've said many times before, I believe that our countries should be able to resolve this issue peacefully with diplomacy. Iran's supreme leader, Iatolah Hamaini, has issued a potwa against the development of nuclear weapons. And President Mohani has said that Iran would never develop a nuclear weapon. Together with the international community the United States has said that Iran should have access to pe, peaceful nuclear energy consistent with Iran's international obligations. So there is a way fro Iraq, if it is willing to take meaningful, verifiable steps to assure the world that its nuclear program is in fact for peaceful purposes only. In this sense Iran's leaders have a choice between two paths. If they cannot agree to a reasonable deal they will keep Iran on the path it's on today. A path that has isolated Iran and the Iranian people from so much of the world. Caused so much hardship for Iranian families. And deprived so many young Iranians the jobs and opportunities they deserve. On the other hand, if Iran's leaders can agree to a reasonable deal, it can lead to a better path. The path of greater opportunities for the Iranian people. More trade and ties with the world. More foreign investment in jobs. Including for young Iranians. More cultural exchanges and chances for Iranian student to travel abroad. More partnerships in areas like science and technology and innovation. In other words, a nuclear deal now can help open the door to a brighter for you, the Iranian people. Who as heirs to a great civilization have so much to give the world. This is what's at stake today, and this moment may not come again soon. I believe that our nations have a historic opportunity to resolve this issue peacefully. An opportunity we should not miss. As the poet Hafez wrote, it is early spring. Try to be joyful in your heart. For many a flower will bloom while you will be in clay. For decades our nations have been separated by mistrust and fear. Now it is early spring. We have a chance, a chance, to make progress that will benefit our countries and the world for many years to come. Now it's up to all of us, Iranians and Americans, to seize this moment, and the possibilities that can bloom in this new season. 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