US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton heads to the West Bank today, after telling Israel a two state solution to the Middle East conflict is in its best interests. In her first talks with Israeli leaders since taking office, she has pledged to pursue a peace deal under which a Palestinian state would be created. She also announced two US envoys would be sent to Syria.

“Eventually, the inevitability of working toward a two-state solution seems inescapable,” Clinton told a news conference in Jerusalem. “It does not mean that we don’t respect the opinions of others who see it differently, but from my perspective and from the perspective of the Obama administration, time is of the essence.”

And that puts Washington on a possible collision course with the Israeli prime-minister designate. Benjamin Netanyahu, head of the right-wing Likud party, is strenuously avoiding committing to a Palestinian state as he tries to form a ruling coalition.

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