'Obama looking forward to working with Netanyahu's gov't'

The Obama administration is still committed to a two-state solution, according a Reuters report Wednesday which quoted the White House.

Mike Hammer, a White House National Security Council spokesman, was quoted as saying, "The president has said many times that we are committed to the establishment of a democratic Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security."

The spokesman also reiterated US President Barak Obama's promise to work "vigorously for this two-state solution."

Regarding Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's new government, Hammer said, "We look forward to working with the new Israeli government and understand that we will have frank discussions, and that these discussions will be based on an underlying shared commitment to Israel and its security."

Obama also called Netanyahu personally on Wednesday and congratulated him on his inauguration to the premiership.

Obama, currently on his first overseas trip as president, phoned Netanyahu in the early morning hours Wednesday, and congratulated him on his first day in office. According to Netanyahu's office, Obama made clear that US support for Israel's security was unwavering, and wished him well.

The conversation lasted close to 30 minutes, and was held in a "friendly" atmosphere. The two agreed to meet in the near future, though no date was given.

In recent weeks, both US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have made clear in recent weeks that a two- state solution was a cornerstone of their Israeli-Palestinian policy, although - unlike the European Union - they did not threaten any overall reassessment of relations with Israel if the Netanyahu government does not fall into line.

On Sunday, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, said Friday that if the new Israeli government does not commit itself to establishing a Palestinian state, "relations would become very difficult indeed."

Herb Keinon contributed to this report