During Bibi Netanyahu's push for reelection, he changed course and veered hard right, trying to win the vote by reversing his position of supporting a Palestinian State:
In a dramatic policy reversal, he said he now opposes the creation of a Palestinian state — a key policy goal of the White House and the international community. He also promised to expand construction in Jewish areas of East Jerusalem, the section of the city claimed by the Palestinians as their capital.
NBC's Andrea Mitchell nabbed the first interview with Netanyahu, who immediately walked back many of his ultra hard right positions after he won his election fight. (rough transcript)
Mitchell: Critics and analysts here and around thew world are saying at what cost, your hard turn right on the Palestinian issue, what you said about the Arab voters coming out in droves - they say are costing you, costing you support around the world.
Netanyahu: Well, neither one, the premises of your questions are wrong. I haven't changed my policy. I never retracted my speech ..... six years ago calling for a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes the Jewish state.
I don't want a one state solution. I want a sustainable peaceful two-state solution, but for that circumstances have to change.
Mitchell: But you were reelected on a mandate, certainly Israeli voters, your supporters believe you were elected on a mandate against a two-state solution, that is the way the White House is interpreting, the White House says this is divisive...
How has he changed course yet again in a matter of days? Because that was his plan all along and he only acted like a Tea Party Republican to get votes. Or was he forced to change positions on a two-state solution after the White House threatened to side with the UN Security Council resolution?
And with Mr. Netanyahu’s last-minute turnaround against a Palestinian state alongside Israel, several administration officials said that the Obama administration may now agree to passage of a United Nations Security Council resolution embodying principles of a two-state solution that would be based on the pre-1967 lines between Israel and the West Bank and Gaza Strip and mutually agreed swaps.
