Obama warns Trump against 'sudden' unilateral moves' on Middle East conflict

Outgoing US President Barack Obama warned his successor Donald Trump on Wednesday against any "sudden, unilateral moves" on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in an apparent reference to his plan to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

"The President-elect will have his own policy," Obama told his final news conference, two days before leaving office.

"But obviously it's a volatile environment. What we have seen in the past is when some unilateral moves are made that speak to some of the core issues and sensitivities of either side, that can be explosive."

Earlier on Wednesday, Nikki Haley, nominated to be the next US ambassador to the United Nations, told senators she supports Trump’s plan to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

"Not only is that what Israel wants, but that is what this congress has said that is what they support," said the 44-year-old governor of South Carolina.

Taking questions on many topics at the news conference, Obama said the "moment may be passing" for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, pushing back on criticism over his recent move to put pressure on Israel over settlement-building.

“I don’t see how this issue gets resolved in a way that maintains Israel as both Jewish and a democracy, because if you do not have two states, then in some form or fashion you are extending an occupation – functionally you have one state,” Obama said.

Last month, the US abstained to vote on a UN security council resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, and demanding that Israel halt all settlement building and expansion in the occupied territories.

The Obama administration made clear that the US decision to abstain was in direct response to choices made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on settlements.