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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
 (AP)
Last update - 19:23 03/03/2009
Clinton: U.S. firm on commitment to two-state solution
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu 

The visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Israel this week may give an early indication of any disagreements on the Palestinian issue between the United States and the next Israeli government. In an interview on Friday with Voice of America, Clinton said she would emphasize her country's commitment to a two-state solution.

Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu has been sticking to his ambiguous stance on the Israeli-Palestinian process. In an interview in the Washington Post on Saturday, Netanyahu did not confirm or deny a belief in the two-state solution. "Substantively, there is broad agreement inside Israel and outside that the Palestinians should have the ability to govern their lives but not to threaten ours," he said.

Clinton said the administration wanted to help Israel and the Palestinian Authority work toward a permanent agreement leading to an independent, sustainable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. She said the United States sought internal Palestinian reconciliation, but any national unity government would have to maintain the conditions of the Quartet: recognizing Israel, abiding by previous agreements and forsaking violence.
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Netanyahu also told the Washington Post that he will continue talks with the PA, seeking to strengthen the Palestinian security forces and develop the West Bank's economy. He said he would lead a special ministerial committee on the issue, adding that "economic progress is no substitute [to political progress], but in Northern Ireland it was an unbelievable facilitator for the Good Friday agreement and others that followed."

On Friday, a second round of talks between Netanyahu and Kadima leader Tzipi Livni hit a snag as Netanyahu avoided expressing support for a two-state solution. "A final agreement will see the Palestinians having the full authority to run their lives," he reportedly told Livni. "But do you want them to have control of the air space, their own army, the right for them to make alliances with other states like Iran, or control over borders that would allow for weapons imports? I won't stand for it."

According to a source familiar with the situation, Netanyahu said he would "go on and take forward the talks with the Palestinians. But if they get full sovereignity it will pose a risk to the security of the State of Israel."

Sources say Netanyahu was not against the Palestinians having some autonomy in foreign affairs, such as embassies and diplomatic ties with any country in the world. But he deliberately avoided the use of the word "state" because it implied sovereignity and control over military affairs.

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  • Netanyahu vows to honor Israel's 'international commitments'
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      1.   US solution to the Israeli Occupation 04:13  |  Le Corbeau 01/03/09
      2.   Statehood 04:21  |  Neil 01/03/09
      3.   Netanyahu knows 04:28  |  yes 01/03/09
      4.   Change? What Change? 04:30  |  Johnny Weintraub 01/03/09
      5.   Then the USA can expect more trouble from God 04:45  |  Damon 01/03/09
      6.   It all started with a hug 04:59  |  Arie 01/03/09
      7.   Hillary out of touch with reality 05:07  |  Mark Lincoln 01/03/09
      8.   Livni then could join Netanyahu Government given U.S. commitment 05:09  |  Smadar 01/03/09
      9.   Impose the impossible... 05:12  |  Analyst 01/03/09
      10.   May we be real in our statements? 05:14  |  Mark Lincoln 01/03/09
      11.   Neither Clinton nor Obama will have to live with - or not to live 05:53  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 01/03/09
      12.   We`re firm on a two-state solution 06:11  |  EricP 01/03/09
      13.   The end of Israel is coming sooner than you think 06:24  |  observer 01/03/09
      14.   either your a state or your not 06:24  |  ben Martin 01/03/09
      15.   US ideas on mideast have always been failures.... 06:52  |  bernard ross 01/03/09
      16.   Hamas does not recognise Israel - end of 2 state solution 07:09  |  martin knopfman 01/03/09
      17.   Palestinians do not want a 2 state solution 07:10  |  real vision 01/03/09
      18.   #1 - thank you for you unsubstantiated comment. 07:10  |  martin knopfman 01/03/09
      19.   Two State Solution Exists: Israel And Jordan 07:15  |  Yishai Kohen 01/03/09
      20.   A PROMISE OF FAILURE FROM DAY ONE 07:16  |  indrajaya 01/03/09
      21.   1~Observer Tell that to the U.S. Secretary Clinton 07:21  |  Akram Zekaria 01/03/09
      22.   Foolish woman without stick 07:26  |  Natallie Durson 01/03/09
      23.   About rights and legitimacy. 07:31  |  Jean Van Daem 01/03/09
      24.   Like Germany after WWII 07:34  |  Albert Dumont 01/03/09
      25.   Just wondering 07:53  |  *BEN JABO 01/03/09
      26.   You can trust Hillary 08:02  |  *BEN JABO 01/03/09
      27.   The End of Israel 08:14  |  Lesley 01/03/09
      28.   #1 observer 08:40  |  maoriboy 01/03/09
      29.   Facts on the ground, ideas in the sky 09:01  |  Tidhar 01/03/09
      30.   You go girl.... 09:05  |  Hanna 01/03/09
      31.   9Nat:Clinton ERRED in taking S of S;ie will not ever be President 09:08  |  EL 01/03/09
      32.   US is firm on what the Arabs reject 09:11  |  peter 01/03/09
      33.   Well, either Netanyahu will turn upside down the Likud party..... 09:12  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/03/09
      34.   U.S. Dep`t of States vow to fabricate pal state 09:13  |  Joseph.E 01/03/09
      35.   Mahmoud Abbas`s peace offer... 09:28  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 01/03/09
      36.   Sometimes ambiguity is better 09:42  |  JS 01/03/09
      37.   Palestinians do not want a 2 state solution 10:02  |  Palestinian Brit 01/03/09
      38.   #15talking about foolish woman,gnat Durson,u repeating the same 10:15  |  Susanna/shoshana 01/03/09
      39.   Clintons Caused OSLO disaster so now what? 10:26  |  Baruch Gold 01/03/09
      40.   Three State Solution 10:35  |  J 01/03/09
      41.   why do these hypocrite leaders say they speak for their countrys? 10:42  |  glenna 01/03/09
      42.   #2Mark Lincoln,I like you referencing the West Bank as "Judea and 10:53  |  Susanna/shoshana 01/03/09
      43.   The 2 state solution is long dead. 10:55  |  ELIAS KHOURY 01/03/09
      44.   #17 Natallie Durson 11:20  |  Chris Linthwaite 01/03/09
      45.   Hilary Clinton 11:27  |  DT 01/03/09
      46.   KHOURY the 2 state solution was never an Arab option! 11:30  |  PETER SM 01/03/09
      47.   # 10 to bernard re: "failed" u.s. ideas for the middle east 11:37  |  eric 01/03/09
      48.   Tell ya` what . . . 11:42  |  Zev Davis 01/03/09
      49.   Is it your idea of peace, eric? 11:55  |  Sceptic 01/03/09
      50.   Collision course with Almighty G-D ? 11:57  |  Bill 01/03/09
      51.   Tony Blair 12:12  |  Chris Linthwaite 01/03/09
      52.   UNSC Resolution, as is, is the wisest and most practical way out. 13:09  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 01/03/09
      53.   #34 eric which garbage pail do you get your ideas from??? 13:19  |  v hardman 01/03/09
      54.   # 8 Observer, The end of Israel is coming sooner than you think" 13:30  |  Petra 01/03/09
      55.   # 11 Martin, still Clinton will blunder through 13:35  |  Petra 01/03/09
      56.   REALITY CHECK 13:38  |  That is History 01/03/09
      57.   Is it your idea of peace, eric? 2nd try 13:38  |  Sceptic 01/03/09
      58.   #2 Mark Lincoln from your lips to G-ds ears. 13:41  |  petra 01/03/09
      59.   Clinton violates U.S. Constitution on Biblical Israel 13:42  |  sam 01/03/09
      60.   The difference between the Blair and Israel, Chris 13:44  |  Sceptic 01/03/09
      61.   Yellow Journalism 13:51  |  Howard Cooper 01/03/09
      62.   # 36 Bill 14:06  |  Bob 01/03/09
      63.   Who does nut and yahoo think he is. 14:26  |  Labhras 01/03/09
      64.   Full Palestinian sovereignty is possible only via the Saudi Plan 14:33  |  Ivar 01/03/09
      65.   Change You Can Believe In... 14:34  |  Jeff Northridge 01/03/09
      66.   What is Jordan? They have a state 14:40  |  Confused 01/03/09
      67.   One State!! 14:43  |  Joe 01/03/09
      68.   Petra---- from the devils lips to your ears 14:43  |  Labhras 01/03/09
      69.   Jordan is a Palestinian state, 14:44  |  Jacob 01/03/09
      70.   #41 better tell her to cancel the direct payments 14:46  |  Labhras 01/03/09
      71.   US politicos have a short memory 15:11  |  Raymond in DC 01/03/09
      72.   The difference between the Blair and Israel, Chris 15:11  |  Sceptic 01/03/09
      73.   #41 Sam 15:22  |  Chris Linthwaite 01/03/09
      74.   ELIAS KHOURY # 32 You Lack Imagination, Sir 15:24  |  Jeff Northridge 01/03/09
      75.   NETANYAHU IS POSITIONING ISRAEL FOR ANOTHER LAND GRAB 15:30  |  JOHN BROWN 01/03/09
      76.   PALESTINIANS WANT THEIR FREEDOM 15:35  |  JOHN BROWN 01/03/09
      77.   No. 1, Damon 15:51  |  W 01/03/09
      78.   How about a 2-State solution for the US 15:55  |  D 01/03/09
      79.   the u.s has been firm on two-state solution 16:13  |  rakefet jones 01/03/09
      80.   Damon # 1 16:21  |  Maureen 01/03/09
      81.   Two states in the land of 12 tribes? I don’t’ think so! 16:21  |  Samuel Hendriks 01/03/09
      82.   Hillary Two State ?! Ask Bill . 16:29  |  Akram Zekaria 01/03/09
      83.   42 bob 16:37  |  larry from delaware 01/03/09
      84.   #31 Susanna/shoshana 16:43  |  Bryan 01/03/09
      85.   #41 16:47  |  Sophie Amrain 01/03/09
      86.   #36 16:50  |  Sophie Amrain 01/03/09
      87.   #5 Mark 16:52  |  Peter Mall 01/03/09
      88.   You are not living in reality 17:02  |  Ian 01/03/09
      89.   #2 you are correct 17:02  |  julie 01/03/09
      90.   Spoiled 17:13  |  Chi 01/03/09
      91.   # 8 17:13  |  Shalom 01/03/09
      92.   no offense 17:25  |  rigma 01/03/09
      93.   American Politiks 17:27  |  rigma 01/03/09
      94.   2-state crap 17:40  |  Brod 01/03/09
      95.   Billary: fine, give them Oklahoma and the Dakotas! 17:54  |  Rafael V. Rabinovich 01/03/09
      96.   actually we`re heading to zero-state resolution 18:03  |  gordi annot 01/03/09
      97.   Peace? 18:08  |  Brod 01/03/09
      98.   To Chris Linthwaite (# 37). You can wake up now, Chris. 18:29  |  flyingdoc57 01/03/09
      99.   : Clinton: U.S. firm on commitment to two-state solution 18:33  |  KGM 01/03/09
      100.   To: Scepticc 18:39  |  Matt 01/03/09
      101.   Jewish intelligenza 19:51  |  Mark 01/03/09
      102.   Two-State Solution: From Bad to Worse. 20:27  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 01/03/09
      103.   The Arab Version of a 2 State Solution 20:33  |  Tod Zuckerman 01/03/09
      104.   An approach that relies strictly on UNSC Resolution 242!!!!! 21:41  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 01/03/09
      105.   Tod Zuckerman and misinformation 22:08  |  ELIAS KHOURY 01/03/09
      106.   Clinton wants to buy Nobel Prize and pay for it with Jewish blood 23:12  |  Bennie 01/03/09
      107.   Solution based on UNGAR181 01:06  |  Le Corbeau 02/03/09
      108.   Bush was `firm` on two states as well: Talk is cheap 01:56  |  peacelover 02/03/09
      109.   Israel is looking a little extreme. 02:11  |  James Hovland 02/03/09
      110.   Will the US demand Natanyahu accpet the 2 state solution 03:12  |  BIG 02/03/09
      111.   Reply to #87 - Yeah, Right 03:57  |  Tod Zuckerman 02/03/09
      112.   Hillary 04:46  |  Mallie 02/03/09
      113.   So We Have A Solomon Here Do we 05:51  |  Shimon 02/03/09
      114.   # 43 sceptic, YOUR facts are meaningless and have no context 06:05  |  eric 02/03/09
      115.   # 60 to daybreak re: "israel`s function" 07:53  |  eric 02/03/09
      116.   #98 eric 08:25  |  Daybreak 02/03/09
      117.   #22 Lesley 08:36  |  Jim 02/03/09
      118.   #106 eric You are a good man but, "OH", A LOST CASE! 09:40  |  S 02/03/09
      119.   # 119 daybreak, if you`re relying on chomsky as a source 10:48  |  eric 02/03/09
      120.   #122 eric 23:17  |  Daybreak 02/03/09
      121.   # 121 to "S" re: my post (4rth try) 10:35  |  eric 03/03/09
      122.   eric #124 Whether I am a Jew or Zionist?? 15:47  |  S 03/03/09
      123.   eric re the three nos 15:56  |  American in NY 03/03/09
      124.   #126 American NUTJOB in NY 17:17  |  *BEN JABO 03/03/09
      125.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 23:29  |  American in NY 03/03/09
      126.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 23:31  |  American in NY 03/03/09
      127.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 00:37  |  Daybreak 04/03/09
      128.   daybreak stop whining 03:50  |  American in NY 04/03/09
      129.   # 122 to "S" re: building and destruction 11:55  |  eric 04/03/09
      130.   #128 American? NUTJOB in NY 18:50  |  *BEN JABO 04/03/09
      131.   #128 American in NY 18:56  |  Daybreak 04/03/09
      132.   Thanks eric! 19:14  |  S 04/03/09
      133.   daybreak 03:27  |  American in NY 05/03/09
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