White House to Netanyahu: An Occupation that Lasted More Than 50 Years Must End

U.S. President Barack Obama's chief of staff rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to distance himself from his comments rejecting Palestinian statehood, telling an Israel advocacy group Monday that the U.S. can't just overlook what Netanyahu said on the eve of his re-election.

"An occupation that has lasted more than 50 years must end," White House chief of staff Denis McDonough said.

He also said that Israel cannot control another people forever, warning that such policies would contribute to Israel's "total isolation" from the international community.

In a speech to J Street, an Israel advocacy group that is sharply critical of Netanyahu, McDonough warned Israel against annexing the West Bank, where Palestinians hope to establish their future state.

He said Netanyahu's prediction that a Palestinian state wouldn't come about on his watch were "so very troubling" and called into question Netanyahu's broader commitment to the two-state solution the U.S. and Israel have officially supported for years.

"We cannot simply pretend that these comments were never made," McDonough said.

McDonough's critique of the Israeli leader came as both Israelis and Palestinians are closely watching to see how U.S. policy will change in practical terms after Netanyahu's success in the elections.

Obama has said the U.S. must reevaluate its approach to pursuing Mideast peace because of Netanyahu's comments, and has entertained speculation the U.S. will be less willing to come to Israel's defense in the United Nations. The U.S. has voted against U.N. resolutions supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state, insisting that is a matter to be negotiated in peace talks.

On Monday, Netanyahu apologized to Israel's Arab citizens for another set of remarks that offended members of the community and drew additional U.S. criticism. Netanyahu said he never intended to offend the country's Arab-Israeli minority, but it wasn't immediately clear whether that apology would placate those in Israel and elsewhere who took offense.

Obama's decision to dispatch his chief of staff to speak to J Street just days after the election was perceived as another sign the Obama administration intends to take a tougher tack toward Netanyahu despite its insistence that the U.S.-Israeli relationship is still strong.

McDonough received a standing ovation when he called out Israel's government for ongoing construction of settlements in the West Bank.