Both the European Union (EU) and the US gave a cool reception to Netanyahu's upset victory in Tuesday's election.
They expressed concern that his lurch to the right during the hard-fought campaign could prove an insurmountable obstacle to any resumption of peace talks.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas said a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict would be impossible with a new government led by Netanyahu.
In a last-ditch appeal to Israel's far right just hours before polls opened, the incumbent ruled out the establishment of a Palestinian state and pledged to build thousands of new homes for Jewish settlers in annexed Arab east Jerusalem.
While it may have secured him a third consecutive term, it has left him deeply isolated internationally and has done further damage to his already frosty relations with US President Barack Obama.
Washington brokered nine months of negotiations between Netanyahu's last government and the Palestinians that were predicated on a two-state solution and accused the Israeli premier of helping bring about their collapse.
The White House said it continued to see a two-state solution as "the best way" to resolve the Middle East conflict and warned it was reviewing its policy on the diplomatic stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians.
The statement did not elaborate on the options under consideration but speculation swirled about whether the Obama administration might cease using the US veto at the UN Security Council to shield Israel from the Palestinians' efforts for statehood.
The Palestinian leader said that it was clear from Netanyahu's campaign pledges that there was no prospect of a negotiated settlement with him as prime minister.
Abbas said the Palestinians would continue to "demand international legitimacy," in reference to their attempts to achieve statehood through international bodies.
The Palestinians will formally join the International Criminal Court on April 1 and have vowed to seek action from the very first day for alleged Israeli war crimes during last year's conflict in the Gaza Strip.
EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini telephoned Netanyahu to impress upon him the need to "re-launch" peace negotiations "based on a two-state solution."
Netanyahu's center-left challenger Isaac Herzog had campaigned on pledge to re-launch peace negotiations with the Palestinians and mend ties with Washington.
Conceding defeat, the Zionist Union leader quickly ruled out any participation in a unity government with Netanyahu.
AFP
globaltimes.cn
19/3/15
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- Israel PM Netanyahu softens stance on Palestinian state...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has watered down a pre-election vow not to allow the establishment of a Palestinian state.
In a US TV interview, Mr Netanyahu said he wanted a two-state solution, but said "circumstances have to change".
The interview with MSNBC was his first since winning a clear election victory earlier this week.
As the campaign ended Mr Netanyahu had appealed to supporters by saying he would not allow a Palestinian state.
But that view was tempered in Thursday's interview, in which he also denied accusations that another last-minute campaign pronouncement amounted to racism.
"I don't want a a one-state solution. I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution, but for that circumstances have to change," Mr Netanyahu told MSNBC............http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31968676
19/3/15
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