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Last update - 00:00 15/06/2009
Netanyahu backs demilitarized Palestinian state
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Haaretz TV, israel news 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called on Palestinian leaders to restart Middle East peace negotiations without preconditions, in a highly anticipated foreign policy address at Bar Ilan University.

(Click here for the full text of Netanyahu's speech.)

"I call on you, our Palestinian neighbors, and to the leadership of the Palestinian Authority: Let us begin peace negotiations immediately, without preconditions," he said. "Israel is committed to international agreements and expects all the other parties to fulfill their obligations as well."
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In an apparent reversal of Israeli policy, Netanyahu also declared that he was prepared to see the creation of a Palestinian state, so long as the international community can guarantee that it not have any military capabilities.

"Israel cannot agree to a Palestinian state unless it gets guarantees it is demilitarized," Netanyahu said. He also said that Jerusalem must remain the unified capital of Israel.

The address at Bar Ilan came in the wake of the Obama administration's insistence that Israel impose a complete freeze on West Bank settlement construction and recognize the two-state solution.

During the speech, Netanyahu vowed that Israel would not build any new settlements and would refrain from expanding existing Israeli communities in the West Bank. Still, he said the government must be allowed to accommodate natural growth in these settlements.

Netanyahu has until now been adamant that a settlement freeze is unfeasible and that he would concentrate on strengthening the Palestinian economy, rather than agreeing to their statehood.

The prime minister said he was prepared to meet with the leaders of neighboring Arab countries at any time, to promote regional peace and to gain their contribution to the Palestinian economy.

Netanyahu reiterated that Israel has no desire to control the Palestinian people, and declared that both nations should be able to live side by side in peace.

"We want both Israeli and Palestinian children to live without war," Netanyahu said, but added: "We must ask ourselves - why has peace not yet arrived after 60 years?"

Israel would not accept any situation in which it was forced to exist beside a terrorist state. Every withdrawal from settlement territories would contribute to such terror, said Netanyahu.

The prime minister also said that Palestinians must accept Israel as a Jewish state, and cited the root of the regional conflict to "even moderate" Palestinian elements' refusal to do so.

"When Palestinians are ready to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, we will be ready for a true final settlement," the prime minister said.

He emphasized that the Jewish people have been linked to the land of Israel for over 3,000 years and ruled out the option of granting Palestinians refugees the right to settle within Israeli borders.

Netanyahu said that Israel would not negotiate with terrorist who wish to destroy it, and said that Palestinians must choose between path of peace and Hamas.

The prime minister opened his address by saying that he had formed his new government earlier this year with three major challenges facing Israel: the economic crisis, the Iranian threat, and the Middle East peace process.

He stressed that the greatest threat to the world today was the link between Islamist extremism and nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu, who until now had not endorsed U.S. President Barack Obama's goal of Palestinian statehood, used this policy speech as an opportunity to reverse course and try to narrow a rare rift between Israel and its closest ally.

The prime minister met with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and President Shimon Peres over the weekend for consultations about his speech.

Peres and Barak reportedly pressed Netanyahu to announce in the speech his acceptance of the road map and willingness to recognize a Palestinian state with security limitations.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, himself at loggerheads with Hamas, has said talks with Israel cannot resume until Netanyahu halts settlement and accepts a two-state solution.

Related articles:
  • PA official: Netanyahu faces 'yes or no' decision on peace
  • Haaretz editorial / Netanyahu's day
  • Gideon Levy / The speech of our lives
  • Zvi Bar'el / If you will it, it's just a dream
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      1.   Surprise surprise. Nothing new here 20:13  |  Sabah 14/06/09
      2.   Growing Oranges in Norway 20:16  |  Michael 14/06/09
      3.   A plainly apartheid plan 20:20  |  Tarik 14/06/09
      4.   tit for tat 20:25  |  Axel 14/06/09
      5.   This will all go nowhere 20:25  |  Witness 14/06/09
      6.   King David said this 3000 yrs ago: You talk. We war! 20:25  |  Read History 14/06/09
      7.   Natanyahu is true enemy of Israel !! 20:32  |  Tony Silver 14/06/09
      8.   talk talk talk talk as T approcahes infinity 20:33  |  Mr. Talk 14/06/09
      9.   without military capabilities??? 20:38  |  Imad 14/06/09
      10.   fair enough... 20:39  |  Jennifer 14/06/09
      11.   Reinforcing Apartheid in Israel 20:40  |  Alon 14/06/09
      12.   Without pre-condition and then he gave pre-condition 20:42  |  Adam Rahman 14/06/09
      13.   When will the settlements end? 20:46  |  Rose 14/06/09
      14.   Go Bibi, Go Israel 20:46  |  Ben Haam 14/06/09
      15.   Nothing New in Speech 20:50  |  Jane 14/06/09
      16.   I read lots of preconditions: his, not theirs 20:51  |  Shelley 14/06/09
      17.   Peace as long as we give up nothing 20:51  |  Colin Wright 14/06/09
      18.   This is not the end of the game... 20:56  |  Shimon 14/06/09
      19.   The trash bag thrown back... 20:56  |  Steve 14/06/09
      20.   Awaiting Obamas move 22:24  |  Natallie Durson 14/06/09
      21.   Thank you , Netanyahoo 22:26  |  Mammy 14/06/09
      22.   I`m so embarassed for you! 22:28  |  Pete 14/06/09
      23.   netanyahu 22:30  |  infidel 14/06/09
      24.   Likud`s Palestinian autonomy 22:30  |  Sam 14/06/09
      25.   I am coming in peace 22:31  |  Elia 14/06/09
      26.   As President I hearby declare the end of all support to Israel 22:32  |  President Obama 14/06/09
      27.   Netanyahu provides Israel a good starting point for negociations 22:33  |  Morris Valentine 14/06/09
      28.   Disarm? 22:34  |  Heather Czerniak 14/06/09
      29.   contradiction??? 22:35  |  Fred G. 14/06/09
      30.   All Netanyahu has done 22:41  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/06/09
      31.   Good Speech ... Arabs will NEVER accept Jewish State 22:42  |  GZLives 14/06/09
      32.   #19, wake up 22:43  |  Mohamad 14/06/09
      33.   Finally Iivni says" Netanyahu marching in the right direction" 22:46  |  Mark Myers 14/06/09
      34.   #20,Natalie Durson,Obama has already moved on! 07:51  |  Chappaqua neighbor 15/06/09
      35.   Netanyahu demanded that the Arabs, Palestinian and otherwise, ... 07:52  |  Amihai 15/06/09
      36.   well... 07:53  |  rm 15/06/09
      37.   All this proves 3rd try 07:55  |  maoriboy 15/06/09
      38.   Much to do about nothing.... 07:58  |  Dutch 15/06/09
      39.   let`s be generous, now! 08:20  |  Mark 15/06/09
      40.   Anti-Semitism 08:38  |  Todd 15/06/09
      41.   Ball (as always) are in Arab Leaders Court 08:39  |  Baruc h Gold 15/06/09
      42.   sober, no nonsense speech 2 10:13  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/06/09
      43.   bibi just wants west bank to be gaza with settlements 10:13  |  muslim-- 15/06/09
      44.   Obama and Jimmy Carter agree with Bibi!! 10:13  |  Dr eric 15/06/09
      45.   bantustans 10:17  |  Truth 15/06/09
      46.   If Palestine has to be "demilitarized" then israel should be too 10:21  |  DD 15/06/09
      47.   History is a dangerous path 10:24  |  Kilminster 15/06/09
      48.   we are getting tired end the suffering now !!!! 10:27  |  muslim-- 15/06/09
      49.   Amihai 11:34  |  an enraged bystander 15/06/09
      50.   Dont Worry They are All Playing Games 13:31  |  Ronnie Wolman 15/06/09
      51.   US needs to do what it does best 13:57  |  Roo 15/06/09
      52.   Netanyahu`s hypocrisy 14:11  |  Gully Foyle 15/06/09
      53.   Netanyahu`s weasel words are laughable! 14:32  |  Matty Groves 15/06/09
      54.   # 35 amihai 14:40  |  Axel 15/06/09
      55.   no preconditions? 14:41  |  lars 15/06/09
      56.   A small step for mankind... 16:47  |  Marvin 15/06/09
      57.   We had seen this movie before 17:07  |  Arnaldo 15/06/09
      58.   Goat market 20:20  |  Adam 15/06/09
      59.   Peace with Muslims is IMPOSSIBLE!!! 21:22  |  Jgarbuz 15/06/09
      60.   #49 anenragedbystander 21:34  |  ZIONIST JEW 15/06/09
      61.   Demilitarization 21:35  |  Who knows? 15/06/09
      62.   israel 21:39  |  bernie 15/06/09
      63.   enraged bystander, they neither have the same 03:24  |  jj 16/06/09
      64.   Read AOL news 04:37  |  Kelli 16/06/09
      65.   Yes, an incredible speech 04:49  |  American 16/06/09
      66.   #3 04:50  |  Kelli 16/06/09
      67.   To Tarik 05:54  |  utagawa 16/06/09
      68.   A demilitarized Palestinian State is not a bad idea. 09:34  |  a wandering Jew 16/06/09
      69.   #40. " Anti-Semitism" Stupid word 16:32  |  Rocko Klein 16/06/09
      70.   A thought for the American "RIGHT" 17:28  |  Imran 16/06/09
      71.   Netanyahu adopts the Geneva Initiative - 10th try 18:50  |  zeev 28/06/09
      72.   American support for Israel 06:53  |  Valentine Balss 29/06/09
      73.   Palestinian Hate 02:22  |  Carole 05/07/09
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