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Last update - 22:26 19/04/2009
Netanyahu: Peace talks can begin before PA recognizes Israel as Jewish
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Palestinians, Ehud Barak 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is willing to begin negotiations with the Palestinians without demanding they first recognize Israel as a Jewish state, sources in his office said on Sunday.

However, the sources added that Netanyahu would condition future developments for a peace settlement on this demand.

The U.S. State Department on Sunday rejected as unacceptable the prime minister's demand last week that Palestinians recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people as a condition for renewing peace talks.
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The State Department released statements saying that the United States would continue to promote a two-state solution. In Ramallah, Mitchell met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Netanyahu on Sunday that Israel must present its own regional peace initiative.

Barak said that in light of American support for the Arab peace initiative, Israel must also formulate its own initiative to present to the U.S. and the Arab world. He said Israel must offer an outline for progress in talks with the Palestinians, Syria and the other Arab states.

Barak made the comments during a special meeting at the Prime Minister's office, at which Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, national security adviser Uzi Arad and senior officials from the defense establishment were present.

According to sources, Barak has shown disagreement behind closed doors to Netanyahu's call for Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state as a precondition for the renewal of peace talks.

The defense minister has so far refrained from publicly criticizing Netanyahu, but associates said Saturday that he is bound by the Labor Party platform, which backs the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Related articles:
  • Obama wants Israel to hold parallel talks with Palestinians and Syria
  • Abbas lays down terms for peace talks with Netanyahu
  • Netanyahu demands Palestinians recognize 'Jewish state'

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      2.   RECOGNIZE ISRAEL AND WE CAN TALK. 15:09  |  petra 19/04/09
      3.   Barak - Israel not a Jewish State 15:14  |  Dr. David Feigenbaum 19/04/09
      4.   The current Israeli political leadership 15:34  |  Chris Linthwaite 19/04/09
      5.   Peace and Prorastination 15:36  |  UK 19/04/09
      6.   BARAK HAS NO MORAL INSIDE 16:25  |  indrajaya 19/04/09
      7.   peace 16:39  |  shimon 19/04/09
      8.   you can make things difficult, but are they? 17:02  |  Tom Meyer Smitsloo 19/04/09
      9.   First time 17:07  |  BazMann 19/04/09
      10.   Earth to Barak, Earth calling Barak 17:09  |  Mark Lincoln 19/04/09
      11.   Netanyahu`s Regional Plan 18:17  |  H 19/04/09
      12.   Cancelling appearances 18:22  |  Chris Linthwaite 19/04/09
      13.   Barak 18:40  |  Iletzter 19/04/09
      14.   Barak to Netanyahu: We must present fake peace plan 18:51  |  Natallie Durson 19/04/09
      15.   To Iletzter re Lieberman 19:09  |  Andrew 19/04/09
      16.   Doom and Gloom. 19:21  |  Bazmann 19/04/09
      17.   A serious peace plan 19:33  |  Frank 19/04/09
      18.   To#7 Fake peace plans 19:35  |  Frank 19/04/09
      19.   3-Mark Lincoln`s the man of nonsense ! 19:43  |  Akram Zekaria 19/04/09
      20.   Barak`s red herrings as failed PM and DM 19:43  |  bernard ross 19/04/09
      21.   7~Natallie Durson : 19:55  |  Akram Zekaria 19/04/09
      22.   Linthwaite # 5 _ Bibi Does Not Know How To "Panic" 20:02  |  Eli 19/04/09
      23.   The Great Conspiracy to bring the Right Gov`t down ! 20:11  |  Akram Zekaria 19/04/09
      24.   Tom Meyer Smitsloo: you are wrong 20:23  |  jevveuses 19/04/09
      25.   In Eight years No Israeli response To The Saudi Peace Initiative 21:24  |  chet 19/04/09
      26.   The new government`s face to the world 21:30  |  David 19/04/09
      27.   #1 Israel should define it borders first 21:35  |  GA 19/04/09
      28.   To #23: Arab fake peace plan 21:39  |  Frank 19/04/09
      29.   Glad he`s not FM. Let`s hope he gets booted from gov`t 21:41  |  B 19/04/09
      30.   #16 Say frank can you be more specific. 21:46  |  veronica 19/04/09
      31.   #16 Akram Zekaria of London 21:47  |  Chris Linthwaite 19/04/09
      32.   petra please tell us you are not kidding 21:52  |  veronica 19/04/09
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      34.   To #30 22:13  |  Frank 19/04/09
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      36.   #25 chet and the illusions of a plan , that has never been drawn 22:38  |  vhardman 19/04/09
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      39.   Mosque? 00:58  |  Zeyad 20/04/09
      40.   # 24 I am not wrong, I am here and now... 00:58  |  Tom Meyer 20/04/09
      41.   OSLO was supposed to have addressed this 03:37  |  Baruch Gold 20/04/09
      42.   to #34 whats about egyptian jordan agreements 03:40  |  can 20/04/09
      43.   A wise maneuver 05:52  |  Mark Lincoln 20/04/09
      44.   sign of the times 17:02  |  davidsoncounty 20/04/09
      45.   irrelevant recognition 17:16  |  Bible Student 20/04/09
      46.   Do What? 17:17  |  Chris 20/04/09
      47.   2 State Solution? 17:35  |  Simon 20/04/09
      48.   " What Peace? " 20:46  |  Robert B 20/04/09
      49.   Peace 21:24  |  Merry Atadan 29/04/09
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