It was entirely expected but nonetheless totally outrageous when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to endorse the idea of a two-state solution during his first bilateral meeting as Israel's head of government with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak this week. Netanyahu refused to discuss the previous Israeli government's position that Palestinian statehood should eventually come about, which was linked to Israel's security requirements.

The hard-line Israeli leader's actions thus far are in line with widespread expectations that his election is a major step backwards for the Palestinian peace process. Netanyahu was hoping to distract attention away from the two-state solution when he said that he hoped to renew peace talks in the coming weeks, and that he wants to discuss economic cooperation with the Palestinians first.

Mubarak did not respond publicly to Netanyahu's refusal to endorse at least the principle of land for peace. But when Mubarak travels to Washington in a few weeks he will have the opportunity to make very clear to US President Barack Obama that land for peace is the only way to find an equitable solution that will satisfy all parties. Without this essential principle in place, the whole credibility of the peace process will crumble, giving huge encouragement to those who call for continued armed struggle on the basis that peace talks are useless.

The UN Security Council added its weight to the debate on Monday when it demanded urgent efforts to create a separate Palestinian state and achieve an overall peace settlement, but the rebuff from the new Israeli government made clear its disdain for international law: "Israel does not believe that the involvement of the Security Council contributes to the political process in the Middle East," said the ambassador to the United Nations. Arab countries and the international community need to make it clear to Israel that it is wrong.