National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the White House knows a that a two-state solution in the Israel-Hamas war is going to be “elusive,” but the administration will continue to negotiate.
“I’ll let [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] speak for his own intent here, I can only tell you that President Biden still believes in the promise and the potential of a two-state solution,” Kirby told CBS News’s Major Garrett. “We understand that that’s going to be elusive.”
Kirby said right now, negotiators are not close to getting leaders to agree to a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, as the war with Hamas will reshape the region and opens questions regarding what the future holds for Palestinians in Gaza.
The Biden administration has said it is pushing for a two-state solution, but Israeli President Isaac Herzog has spoken out against the option.
Jake Sullivan, White House national security adviser, plans to meet with Herzog on Friday.
Kirby said Sullivan met with the crown prince of Saudi Arabia and “it was clear” that the Saudis are willing to move forward on a two-state solution.
“Again, we’re not close to that, it’s not going to happen any time soon, but that’s an important step in getting to a two-state solution,” he said.
For a two-state solution to be possible, Kirby said, it “is going to require leadership on both sides,” particularly leadership that “is willing to be transformative” and see peace for both Israeli people and Palestinian people.
Kirby said President Biden is not giving up on the conversations with leaders on both sides. In late October, Biden called for a “concentrated effort” on the part of world leaders to work toward a solution for Israel and Palestine.