In conversations with diplomatic and political officials in recent weeks, Peres said it was possible to reach an agreement with the Palestinians now, with American assistance. Despite the relationship between Netanyahu and Peres being described as “strained” of late, Peres publicly aims to maintain a unified front and does not contradict Netanyahu’s stance that Israel must be recognized as a Jewish state. In public, Peres states that Israel is a Jewish country, although he says its security will be assured only with the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Peres’ office has declined comment on the matter. His stance is similar to that of Yesh Atid party chairman and Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid, who last month called the demand for recognition of Israel as a Jewish state “nonsense.”