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Now just in the last 72 hours (or thereabouts) Netanyahu did state that if he were re-elected Prime Minister that he would not allow Palestinian State “on his watch”. But now we have those who are in the Netanyahu government and a close Likud associate of Netanyahu saying that they (the Netanyahu government) would be pleased to restart negotiations. And THAT was given after Netanyahu won the election and about 24-48 hours after Netanyahu’s statement (given just before the election).

So basically Netenyahu threw out a whopper of a lie just to get re-elected? The man should have gone into U.S. politics. He has it down cold.

My educated guess, and from knowing and following Netanyahu, is that he is going to restart negotiations with the Palestinians at some point (relatively soon) when the political climate is suitable for it.

Admittedly this is an area where neither side had much trust for the other before, and probably had no reason for it, but after Netenyahu's statement I don't see an "I was just kidding around" explanation having much chance of working.

There is still “plausible deniability” ... since Netanyahu didn’t say this most recent announcement himself. He may be having it announced by someone else so he can gauge the reaction. If it’s politically expedient to do it now, he’ll move ahead. If not, he’ll delay and say that was not his sentiment.

At some future point he’ll get Likud to “sign onto” negotiations with the PA, saying that the alternative is the USA not blocking sanctions from the UN Security Council and having relations with the USA get even worse than they are now. The Likud will “sign on” and the negotiations will start up again.

It’s easier for a “hard-line” leader to come to an agreement like this than it is for a leftist ... just like it was for Nixon with China!

This explains Netanyahu’s position much better and also explains he has not backed away from his Bar-Ilan speech.

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PM still wants ‘a peaceful two-state solution’

“I don’t want a one-state solution. I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution,” Prime Minister Netanyahu tells MSNBC in an interview after the elections.

Trying to clarify his position after the White House said it would draw its own conclusions from his comments on Election Day, in which he ruled out the establishment of a Palestinian state if re-elected, Netanyahu says, “I haven’t changed my policy. I never retracted my speech in Bar-Ilan University calling for a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes a Jewish state.”

Netanyahu explains that circumstances have changed since the Bar-Ilan speech was made in 2009.

Walking back pre-vote pitch, PM says he is not a one-stater
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3269694/posts

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I always knew Netanyahu would stick to his long-standing policy, going back years and years.