Via The Hill:

The White House on Thursday criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for warning in the run-up to his election that Arab-Israelis were voting in large numbers.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest called the rhetoric a “cynical” and “divisive” campaign maneuver that marginalized Arab-Israeli citizens and undermined democratic values.

Earnest also slammed Netanyahu for seemingly disavowing support for a Palestinian state during the campaign.

“What is apparent is that in the context of the campaign and while he was the sitting prime minister of Israel, he walked back from commitments Israel previously made to a two-state solution,” Earnest said at his daily press briefing.

“Words matter and that is certainly true in this instance,” he added. “The president and the administration take him at his word.”

Netanyahu, who decisively won reelection, on Thursday appeared to walk back his repudiation of a two-state solution with the Palestinians. The prime minister denied that he changed his policy, saying the remarks were a reflection of the current political atmosphere.

“I don’t want a one-state solution, I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution,” he said during an interview MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell.

Earnest said President Obama was “aware” of Netanyahu’s comments on Palestinian statehood but would not characterize his reaction.