Wide gulf still divides Israel, Palestine
Source: Agencies |
August 23, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ISRAEL'S prime minister spelled out his opening position for the new round of Mideast peace talks set to begin next week, insisting yesterday on key security conditions and saying an agreement would be "difficult but possible."
Netanyahu said a future Palestinian state would have to be demilitarized, recognize Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people and respect Israel's vital security interests. Some of his demands have already been rejected by the Palestinians.
"We come to the talks with a genuine desire to reach a peace agreement between the two peoples, while protecting Israel's national interests, chiefly security," Netanyahu told his Cabinet.
His comments were his first since United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced last Friday that the sides would resume direct talks at a summit in Washington next week.
"Achieving a peace agreement between us and the Palestinian Authority is difficult but possible," he said.
"We are talking about a peace agreement between Israel and a demilitarized Palestinian state, and this state, if it is established at the end of the process ... is meant to end the conflict and not to be a foundation for its continuation by other means," Netanyahu said.
He did not elaborate on any additional security demands, but in the past he has said that Israel would have to maintain a presence along the West Bank's border with Jordan to prevent arms smuggling. The Palestinians, who claim all of the West Bank as part of their future state, reject any Israeli presence.
In addition, he said, the Palestinians must recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people just as Israel would recognize the Palestinian state as that of the Palestinian people.
The Palestinians recognize Israel's right to exist, but refuse to take a stand on the nature of the country. They say that recognizing Israel as the Jewish state could prejudice the rights of Israel's Arab minority and compromise the right of Palestinian refugees to return to homes vacated in the fighting around Israel's establishment in 1948.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Netanyahu's comments were "dictation, not negotiation."
"If he wants negotiations, he knows that these conditions won't stand," Erekat said.
The comments indicated just how much work lies ahead for US President Barack Obama, who hopes to resolve one of the world's most intractable conflicts within a year.
Netanyahu said a future Palestinian state would have to be demilitarized, recognize Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people and respect Israel's vital security interests. Some of his demands have already been rejected by the Palestinians.
"We come to the talks with a genuine desire to reach a peace agreement between the two peoples, while protecting Israel's national interests, chiefly security," Netanyahu told his Cabinet.
His comments were his first since United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced last Friday that the sides would resume direct talks at a summit in Washington next week.
"Achieving a peace agreement between us and the Palestinian Authority is difficult but possible," he said.
"We are talking about a peace agreement between Israel and a demilitarized Palestinian state, and this state, if it is established at the end of the process ... is meant to end the conflict and not to be a foundation for its continuation by other means," Netanyahu said.
He did not elaborate on any additional security demands, but in the past he has said that Israel would have to maintain a presence along the West Bank's border with Jordan to prevent arms smuggling. The Palestinians, who claim all of the West Bank as part of their future state, reject any Israeli presence.
In addition, he said, the Palestinians must recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people just as Israel would recognize the Palestinian state as that of the Palestinian people.
The Palestinians recognize Israel's right to exist, but refuse to take a stand on the nature of the country. They say that recognizing Israel as the Jewish state could prejudice the rights of Israel's Arab minority and compromise the right of Palestinian refugees to return to homes vacated in the fighting around Israel's establishment in 1948.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Netanyahu's comments were "dictation, not negotiation."
"If he wants negotiations, he knows that these conditions won't stand," Erekat said.
The comments indicated just how much work lies ahead for US President Barack Obama, who hopes to resolve one of the world's most intractable conflicts within a year.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
