Israel risks losing Arab support against Iran if it does not make progress on the Palestinian issue, says US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

美国国务卿希拉里克林顿称，以色列如果不处理好巴勒斯坦问题，就会失去伊朗问题上阿拉伯人的支持。

Hillary Clinton says she will not pre-judge the Israeli government's view

Mrs Clinton told legislators in Washington that the two issues "go hand-in-hand".

Israel considers（考虑，认为） a nuclear-armed Iran as its main threat.

Unlike his predecessor¹（前辈，前任）, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not voiced support for a Palestinian state alongside Israel, a key Arab demand.

"For Israel to get the kind of strong support it's looking for vis-a-vis（面对面） Iran, it can't stay on the sidelines with respect to the Palestinians and peace efforts," Mrs Clinton told the House of Representatives Appropriations² Committee.

"They go hand-in-hand".

Arab nations want "very much to support the strongest possible posture³（姿势，态度） towards Iran," she continued.

"They believe that Israel's willingness to re-enter into discussions with the Palestinian Authority strengthens them in being able to deal with Iran."

Washington visit

The Obama administration has made clear its determination to push for a two-state solution, with Israelis and Palestinians living side-by-side.

But the right-leaning Israeli government under Mr Netanyahu, who took office on 1 April, has so far refused to endorse⁴（支持，赞同） a two-state solution like his predecessor Ehud Olmert.

Mr Netanyahu told US envoy⁵（特使） George Mitchell on his visit to Israel that he would discuss a Palestinian state only if Palestinians recognise Israel as a Jewish state.

Hamas, winner of Palestinian elections in 2006 and de facto（事实上的，实际的） ruler of Gaza, refuses to recognise Israel's legitimacy⁶（合法，正当） or give up its armed struggle while Israel occupies Palestinian territory.

Mrs Clinton told the committee that Prime Minister Netanyahu is due to visit Washington in May.

"We think it is important not to prejudge（预先判断，仓促决定） what their view is and how that can best be approached," she said.