Former US President: Benjamin Netanyahu 'never believed in two-state solution for Israel and Palestine'

Former US President Jimmy Carter has said he no longer attempts to discuss prospects of an Israel Palestine conflict resolution, since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has never wanted a two-state solution.

"[Benjamin Netanyahu] does not now and has never sincerely believed in a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine," said Carter, 90, on 2 May, while ending his trip to Israel and the West Bank.

Carter who was on a trip to the Middle East as part of The Elders group, a mission comprising of former leaders calling for peace, has said he did not request a meeting with Netanyahu since he did not expect his requests to be met.

"It would be a waste of time to ask," said Carter, reported The Independent.

Carter was scheduled to meet several Hamas leaders, however, the plan was cancelled last minute due to security concerns.

Carter has been a strong advocate of negotiations with Hamas and a reconstruction of Gaza.

"Eight months after a devastating war, not one destroyed house has been rebuilt, and people cannot live with the respect and dignity they deserve," said Carter.

Benjamin Netanyahu on two-state solution

Netanyahu had ruled out a Palestinian state in his pre-poll comments and pledged to continue building settlements on the occupied territories.

"I think anyone who is going to establish a Palestinian state and to evacuate territory, is giving radical Islam a staging ground against the State of Israel," Netanyahu had told NRG website.

He changed course on 19 March, denying abandoning his support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine crisis.

"I haven't changed my policy ... calling for a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes the Jewish state," said Netanyahu in an interview with MSNBC.

"I don't want a one-state solution. I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution. But for that circumstances have to change. So we need the conditions of recognition of a Jewish state and real security in order to have a realistic two-state solution.

"To make it achievable, then you have to have real negotiations with people who are committed to peace. We are. It's time that we saw the pressure on the Palestinians to show that they are committed, too."