The US has hit back at Israeli PM Benyamin Netanyahu slammed Secretary of State John Kerry over comments made at a security conference in Munich.
Kerry had criticised the slow progress in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and said that failure to reach an agreement could lead to more boycotts against Israel and would harm the country’s capacity to be a democratic state.
"The risks are very high for Israel," he said in Munich.
"People are talking about boycott. That will intensify in the case of failure. We all have a strong interest in this conflict resolution. Today's status quo absolutely, to a certainty, I promise you 100%, cannot be maintained. It's not sustainable. It's illusionary. There's a momentary prosperity, there's a momentary peace."
Netanyahu responded with a warning that boycotts would push peace further away.
"No pressure will force me to give up the vital interests of the state of Israel, above all the security of the citizens of Israel," he said.
However the State Department accused Netanyahu of distorting Kerry’s comments.
Spokesperson Jen Psaki noted that Kerry had been referring to the actions of others and resolutely opposed boycotts.
"Secretary Kerry has always expected opposition and difficult moments in the process, but he also expects all parties to accurately portray his record and statements," she said.