Netanyahu on Obama’s critique: I won’t give in to pressure

“The tango in the Middle East needs at least three,” Netanyahu said in a statement to the press. “For years there have been two — Israel and the US. Now it needs to be seen if the Palestinians are also present,” he said.

“In any case, in order for us to have an agreement, we must uphold our vital interests. I have proven that I do so, in the face of all pressures and all the turmoil, and I will continue to do so here as well,” he said.

The prime minister also told Channel 2 that he wanted a peace deal, “but it must be a good deal.”

Netanyahu’s response came hours after Bloomberg published an interview with Obama, during which the US president stressed that time was running out for Israel to achieve a peace deal.

Obama also said that Abbas was, in fact, a true peace partner who “has proven himself to be somebody who has been committed to nonviolence and diplomatic efforts to resolve” the conflict.

However, if Netanyahu “does not believe that a peace deal with the Palestinians is the right thing to do for Israel, then he needs to articulate an alternative approach,” Obama said, adding that he believed Israel’s prime minister had the capacity to rally his citizens behind an agreement..

“There comes a point where you can’t manage this anymore, and then you start having to make very difficult choices,” he said.

Obama also cautioned that Israel can expect to face international isolation and possible sanctions from countries and companies across the world if Netanyahu fails to endorse a framework agreement with the Palestinians and engages in more settlement building.