The United States has reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution after Israeli lawmakers voted to oppose the creation of a Palestinian state as an “existential threat”, AFP reports

“I think the best way I can respond to that is to just reiterate our firm belief in the power and the promise of the two-state solution,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

He declined to directly comment on key ally Israel’s vote, which was swiftly criticised by Palestinian leaders and the international community, including the United Nations. Kirby told reporters that “we’re going to keep doing everything we can to try to achieve” a two-state solution.

State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said: “I think it can be safely implied that a piece of legislation that is in opposition to the two-state solution is not something that we would be thrilled about.”