movement as it tries to destroy the two-state solution. we could not in good conscience turn a blind eye to palestinian actions that fanned hatred and violence. >> reporter: israel captured the west bank in a brief war with arab countries in 1967. for decades, it's been u.s. policy that the west bank would eventually become part of a palestinian state, right next to israel, the so-called two-state solution. >> despite our best efforts over the years, the two-state solution is now in serious jeopardy. >> reporter: that, kerry said, is because the israeli government, under the leadership of prime minister benjamin netanyahu, has allowed settlement building to continue. the white house says the number 00 settlers in the west bank has grown by 100,000 since the beginning of the obama administration. kerry made clear he gave the speech now because he fears that both netanyahu and the incoming trump administration could reject the two-state solution. prime minister netanyahu had a blistering response.