Obama turns over Israel’s two-state challenge to successor

The prospect of such a conference with both Israel and Palestine was welcomed by all participants. They angered the White House in 2015 by inviting Netanyahu to give an address to Congress opposing it.

Signatories to the letter included everyone from progressive stalwarts like Elizabeth Warren and Chris Murphy, to Hillary Clinton running mate Tim Kaine, to conservative leaders like John McCain and Mike Lee.

“What the United States thinks has never been the missing link”, he said.

That said, the letter is largely symbolic.

USA and Israeli officials signed the agreement on Wednesday.

Republican Senators Mark Kirk, Marco Rubio and Roy Blunt also co-sponsored the bill introduced on Tuesday. All three legislators are seen as the future of the party, and all three consider themselves passionately pro-Israel.

Netanyahu has been criticized for making strategic decisions that indicate he is not interested in a two-state solution. “I support the spirit of Sens”.

“The bond between the United States and Israel is unbreakable”, Obama said in remarks at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel.

But the White House remains opposed to Israel’s expanded settlement activity in the West Bank, and has expressed disappointment at Netanyahu’s occasional skepticism about the viability of a two-state solution in the region.

Despite Obama’s protestations, since he took office Israel has pushed a wave of construction that matched or even exceeded the pace of building when George W. Bush was president, according to Israeli government data obtained by The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, both Russian Federation and France have signalled an interest in taking on a larger role in mediating between Israelis and Palestinians.

“It is based on common values, family ties, a recognition that the Jewish state of Israel is one of our most important allies”, he said.

He complimented Obama on “what I hear is a terrific golf game”.

The US president said both sides would benefit if Israel recognised it can not permanently occupy the land and if Palestinians rejected incitement and recognised Israel’s legitimacy.

Now, with just four months remaining in office, is Obama once again thinking about peace in the Middle East?

The president himself, elected on a vague but inspiring “hope and change” ticket, vowed to “aggressively seek a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians”. The Israeli and Palestinian leaders were not invited.

The issue where the two camps are most split is on settlements. Tuesday’s incident was the ninth since Friday, coming after Palestinians wrapped up the Muslim celebration of Id ul-Zuha and as Israel tightened security ahead of major Jewish holidays in October. Israel says the vast majority were attackers, but the Palestinians have accused Israel of using excessive force and killing people who were not assailants.

The year-long violence has claimed the lives of at least 230 Palestinians and 34 Israelis.