Goalposts in US-Israel ties have shifted since Netanyahu, Obama took office: Envoy

New York, Aug.26 (ANI): Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Gabriela Shalev has claimed that the goalposts in ties between the United States and Israel have shifted since President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to charge of their respective offices.Speaking to reporters in New York on Tuesday, Shalev said the two governments were working towards a two-state solution, despite disagreements on the settlements issue.

"There is a change that everybody can feel. We have now a government that is leaning toward the Right . . . and on the other hand we have here in the United States a very different government than what we had during the time of the Bush administration," the Jerusalem Post quoted Shalev, as saying.

"We are willing to recognize a two-state solution," she stressed. "While we recognize the Arab state, they must recognize our rights - the Jewish nation - to live in our state. It means both should recognize each other," she added.

When asked if a three-way meeting between US, Israeli, and Palestinian leaders would be held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September, she said "there is a possibility."

The ambassador's comments came just hours before Netanyahu was set to meet with US Mideast envoy George Mitchell in London.

Following his meeting with Mitchell in London on Wednesday, Netanyahu will fly to Germany for a day of talks there. He is scheduled to return to Israel early on Friday morning. (ANI)