WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Obama administration is committed to an Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution and talks on final status issues.
"All of these issues are important elements to getting to a peace, and they’re going to have to be addressed and addressed substantively," State Department spokesman Robert Wood said when a report asked him during Thursday’s briefing whether Jerusalem, borders and refugees remain issues.
The question arose out of Avigdor Lieberman’s maiden speech as Israeli foreign minister, in which he committed to the "road map" peace plan toward a two-state solution but rejected the process launched 18 months ago in Annapolis, Md., which encouraged the sides to leap ahead to final status issues.
Wood said the United States was still committed to the Annapolis process.
"Annapolis provided for and further elaborated on the idea of a two-state solution, and so that is what we’re committed to doing," he said. "We’re trying to figure out the best way to get the parties to move in that direction. And you know, there will be ongoing – there will be conversations that we will have with the parties and – but it’s a difficult road."
