Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer spoke on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday and asserted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still "committed to a vision of peace, of two state for two people." Dermer's defensive statement came after Netanyahu noted on the eve of his re-election that he would not support creation of a Palestinian state as long as he remains prime minister.
Dermer asserted, "10 months ago the leader of the Palestinian authority reached out to a terror organization. (Palestinian) President (Mahmoud) Abbas has to break his alliance with Hamas and return to peace negotiations with Israel." He continued to note that "a Palestinian state today would be a Palestinian terror state," which would "create not another Gaza but 20 Gazas." Host Chuck Todd then inverviewed Palestinian Observer to the UN Riyad Mansour who said, "If we do not move seriously in the direction of a two state solution now and as he suggests to wait then there will never be a two-state solution there will be a one state solution." Mansour stressed that the Israel is continuing its illegal policy of settlements and the Palestinians are "seeking a peaceful legal option." When asked if the Palestinian Authority would renounce its partnership with Hamas, Mansour argued that the Israeli Ambassador to the UN said, "in the Security Council debates how can we negotiate with Abbas when he doesn't represent all the Palestinians." Mansour mentioned that Netanyahu had negotiated a cease-fire directly with Hamas in the second Gaza war and coordinated the release of prisoners with the group.
Mansour concluded, "So when we (PA and Hamas) were divided they didn't want to negotiate with us. When we are united they don't want to negotiate with us."