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Netanyahu: Economics, not politics, is the key to peace By Raphael Ahren Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu told the closing plenary of the United Jewish Communities General Assembly Wednesday that the peace process needs to focus on economic issues and not political disagreements. Instead of talking about contentious issues such as the status of Jerusalem, the first step to a lasting peace needs to be the fostering of the Palestinians' economic situation, he said. Advertisement "Right now, the peace talks are based only one thing, only on peace talks," he said. "It makes no sense at this point to talk about the most contractible issue. It's Jerusalem or bust, or right of return or bust. That has led to failure and is likely to lead to failure again." Netanyahu used much of his 40-minute speech to delineate his own plan for the future of the peace process, which he said will be based on areas that are already agreed on. "We must weave an economic peace alongside a political process," Netanyahu said. "That means that we have to strengthen the moderate parts of the Palestinian economy by handing rapid growth in those area, rapid economic growth that gives a stake for peace for the ordinary Palestinians." Development mitigates Netanyahu said he has discussed his plan with former British Prime Minister and current Mideast Quartet representative Tony Blair and with the American president-elect, Barack Obama. "Economic development does not solves problems, it mitigates them and makes them more accessible for solutions," he said. "Right now, if you look at the division of labor, maybe 99 of our efforts are going to into political negotiations, and less than one percent are going to economic development. I propose we change the proportions, not reverse it, but change the proportion, because economic peace will support and bolster the achievement of political settlements down the line." Livni: Judaism is our raison d'etre Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni also addressed the crowd, saying that Hamas must accept Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state. "The world is willing to defend the right of the state of Israel to exist, this is the part of the requirement that the [Mideast] Quartet demands [of] Hamas," Livni told delegates at the closing ceremony of the United Jewish Communities General Assembly. "But I would like to add two more words to this demand of the quartet: They need to accept the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state." Livni, who heads Kadima, said that Israel's survival was dependent first and foremost on it remaining a Jewish state. "A Jewish state is a matter of values. It is not a matter of religion, it is more a matter of nationality. And a Jewish state is not a monopoly of rabbis, it's what each and everyone feels inside, it's about the nature of the state of Israel," she said. "Its about the Jewish tradition, it's about Jewish history. But we need to keep the nature, the character of the state of Israel as a Jewish state because this is - excuse me for using French - the raison d'etre of the state of Israel." Bookmark to del.icio.us   The King is dead Archeologists find new evidence for King Herod's tomb site. Al-Hasbara Israel launches Arabic YouTube channel to bypass Arab media.

Read & React Israel to boycott 'Durban II' anti-racism conference Responses: 154 Latest poll gives Likud big edge over Kadima Responses: 84 Peres: Evacuation of settlements may lead to civil war Responses: 69 IAEA: Syria site bombed by Israel bore features of nuclear reactor Responses: 101 Defense Min. turns blind eye as Israelis sell arms to enemies Responses: 28 More Headlines 00:10 Hebron settler mob caught on video clashing with IDF troops 23:25 Experts argue: How close is Iran to its first nuclear weapon? 23:41 Livni vows Kadima won't 'sell' Israel to the ultra-Orthodox 20:42 IDF troops foil attempted stabbing attack near Nablus 23:57 Arise Sir Shimon: Peres receives honorary knighthood from Britain's Queen 19:18 Qassam hits Negev as Ashkelon residents protest Gaza rockets 20:52 Record Number of Jews slated for next U.S. Congress 02:43 Restoration of Lebanon synagogue in danger despite rare Hezbollah support 18:49 Barak: West must unite with Russia, China against Iran 22:02 Hezbollah to Iraqi lawmakers: Reject 'damaging' U.S. pact 23:52 Tel Aviv stocks suffer sharp losses; TA-25 sheds 4.9 percent 22:38 Revealed: Police used mole to probe sex for favors case at gov't ministry 17:17 Nobel laureate Maguire: UN should suspend Israel membership 21:01 Michael Jackson to testify over Bahraini sheik's $7m lawsuit 23:08 IDF envisions army of animal robots for rescue missions, military ops Previous Editions Select Day 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 10 nov 09 nov 07 nov

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