President Biden expressed his continued belief in the viability of a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, even with Netanyahu's current Israeli government in power
Netanyahu initially rejected the idea of an independent Palestinian state, citing Israel's need for “security control over all territory,” which clashes with the concept of Palestinian sovereignty
Despite Netanyahu's stance, Biden believed that Netanyahu was not completely opposed to all forms of a two-state solution
Biden and Netanyahu's phone conversation marked their first direct communication since December 23, bridging a nearly month-long gap
Both leaders are navigating domestic political challenges, with Biden facing an upcoming election and Netanyahu dealing with a conservative government and personal legal issues
Biden's frustration with Netanyahu has grown, particularly over Israel's military operations, but he still publicly supports a two-state solution
Biden recognizes the political difficulties Netanyahu faces with his hard-right coalition and ongoing corruption charges
Netanyahu is seen as using tactics to maintain his coalition and possibly waiting for a potential change in the U.S. presidency in November
Key Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. have warned that Netanyahu's position on Palestinian statehood could affect negotiations for military aid to Israel
The Biden administration remains committed to advocating for a two-state solution in the region, striving for long-term security for both Palestinians and Israelis