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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
 (Reuters)
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Last update - 11:51 28/06/2009
Netanyahu: EU receptive to Israel stance on Palestinian statehood
By Haaretz Service
Tags: U.S., Israel News, Ehud Barak 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the European heads of state with whom he met last week were receptive to Israel's new position on Palestinian statehood.

"I found a receptive ear in Europe to the principles that we presented for the diplomatic process with the Palestinians," said Netanyahu at the start of Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

He listed the principles as, "The recognition of a Jewish state, demilitarizing a Palestinian state, and recognition that any agreement signed will be the end of the conflict and an end to demands [of Israel]."
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Netanyahu said that these principles garner widespread public support. "I call on the opposition to declare its support for these ideas," he said.

On Wednesday, the prime minister said his proposal for a demilitarized Palestinian state was gaining international ground and was the only solution for Middle East peace.

"The idea of a demilitarized state will in course become accepted," Netanyahu said after meeting the leaders of France and Italy.

"If it is not accepted, there will not be an agreement," he told following his meeting in Paris with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. "It cannot be that there is a Palestinian state and the struggle will continue within it."

Sarkozy, meanwhile, said that Israel must take immediate confidence-building measures for Middle East peace, including a complete freeze of construction in West Bank settlements.

The French leader told reporters after his meeting with Netanyahu that Israel must also work to improve freedom of movement for Palestinians in the West Bank.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak told the cabinet on Sunday that Israel places "great importance" on reaching an understanding with the Obama administration on the issue of construction in West Bank settlements.

Commenting on the possibility of a temporary freeze in settlement construction, Barak said the matter has yet to be fully formulated.

"The subject of settlements is just part of a wide range of topics of conversation with the Americans," Barak said on Sunday.

Barak will travel to the United States on Monday for a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama's special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell.

In an effort to placate the Obama administration on the issue of settlements, Barak is mulling a proposal whereby the Israeli government would pledge to a temporary, three-month halt to construction in all West Bank settlements, Army Radio reported on Sunday.

Mitchell was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Paris last week, although the meeting was put off reportedly due to the remaining gaps that separate Jerusalem and Washington on the subject of "natural growth."

Israel seeks American approval to continued construction within the existing municipal boundaries of West Bank settlements in order to accommodate the growing population within the communities, a stance that Washington rejects.

The reported proposal would make an exception for some 200 structures which are current in advanced stages of construction, according to Army Radio.

The offer of a temporary freeze is intended to gauge the Palestinian response and to determine whether the Americans are willing to consider the proposal.

The cabinet will discuss Barak's upcoming trip to Washington during its weekly meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday.

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      1.   Stop the BS and take the initiative. 09:45  |  Fortuna Benmayor 28/06/09
      2.   Not only NO, but... 09:46  |  Natallie Durson 28/06/09
      3.   Barak still doesn`t get it 09:48  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/06/09
      4.   `Til a Border Treaty is Ratified 09:50  |  Mark of Lewiston 28/06/09
      5.   I hope 09:52  |  rm 28/06/09
      6.   Israel seeks American approval to continue construction 09:59  |  lydia 28/06/09
      7.   This is a trap for Obama 10:20  |  Daniel 28/06/09
      8.   #7 Daniel of San Diego you have fallen into the trap 10:47  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/06/09
      9.   This is a trap for ISRAEL! 10:59  |  IW 28/06/09
      10.   Jst stop the subsidies, and there`ll be enough room. 11:04  |  Gray 28/06/09
      11.   From the mouth of the man who just approved more construciton 11:23  |  GaileeHero 28/06/09
      12.   Obama gave Bibi til July 1 11:29  |  George 28/06/09
      13.   Row will cease when US, EU, UN pushes IL back across `67 lines 11:39  |  Ivar 28/06/09
      14.   How odd, hey? 12:30  |  Johnboy 28/06/09
      15.   hmmmm? now isn`t it a bit odd that he makes this claim? 12:34  |  eric 28/06/09
      16.   Don`t worry about the EU; worry about the Palestinians. 12:37  |  Damian Lataan 28/06/09
      17.   I don`t know what meeting Netanyahu attended 12:39  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/06/09
      18.   Land grab 13:22  |  John 28/06/09
      19.   Michael had a reason drugs...whats his reason?? 13:47  |  David 28/06/09
      20.   The "negotiations" concept was invented in the ME 13:50  |  Israeli citizen 28/06/09
      21.   a "temporary freeze to settlement construction"? 14:00  |  eric 28/06/09
      22.   Spin 14:16  |  Ussishkin 28/06/09
      23.   Odd, he hears differently than 14:46  |  Mark Lincoln 28/06/09
      24.   Bibi knows that the following sentence alone makes the whole deal 15:00  |  Esther 28/06/09
      25.   He`s getting embarassing now..... 15:06  |  Johnboy 28/06/09
      26.   #15 Israeli Citizen 15:18  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/06/09
      27.   No one should sign onto Netanyahu`s stance for aPalestinian state 15:32  |  Dutch 28/06/09
      28.   Enough of Netanyahu`s stance on a Palestinian state 15:36  |  Dutch 28/06/09
      29.   This is why hamas will not talk with israel 16:09  |  chilem 28/06/09
      30.   what happend to Israel? 16:56  |  Tony Silver 28/06/09
      31.   Popularity contest 17:07  |  ehud 28/06/09
      32.   Howdy Chris: Procrastination is for Hamlet; here we negotiate 18:03  |  Israeli citizen 28/06/09
      33.   Bibi, you say that the EU is "receptive".... 18:20  |  Esther 28/06/09
      34.   Give The Palestinians The West Bank...Remove The Settlements 19:29  |  Eli 28/06/09
      35.   No 26 20:05  |  Tom 28/06/09
      36.   Fake peace seekers 20:34  |  Frank 28/06/09
      37.   Just do it: recognize Israel`s right to exist as the nation-state 20:39  |  Amihai 28/06/09
      38.   "An end to the demands of Israel?" 20:43  |  Witness 28/06/09
      39.   No. 35 20:50  |  Siba 28/06/09
      40.   No. 35 20:53  |  Siba 28/06/09
      41.   Tom in Efrat---occupied terrirory 21:17  |  Labhras 28/06/09
      42.   Tony Silver captures the reality for many well... 21:34  |  BBSNews 28/06/09
      43.   We *know* about Arab rejectionism Frank, sheesh... 21:41  |  BBSNews 28/06/09
      44.   BBSNews _ It`s Not About Land 22:04  |  Eli 28/06/09
      45.   BBSNews _ It`s Not About Land 22:04  |  Eli 28/06/09
      46.   temporary halt 22:05  |  holzauge 28/06/09
      47.   #35 - yes, Israel is a sovereign state, so is Serbia and it 22:06  |  Erastus CoupeDeVille 28/06/09
      48.   B.S. News (# 41). You "capture the reality" for Jews very well. 23:01  |  flyingdoc57 28/06/09
      49.   # 37 amihai 23:06  |  Axel 28/06/09
      50.   # 35 tom 23:11  |  Axel 28/06/09
      51.   Say Eli--how do you help Israel,s security all the way in Berkley 23:31  |  andrew 28/06/09
      52.   #10: Gray, not bad how about... 23:43  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 28/06/09
      53.   BSNews claiming to be a victim of Haaretz censorship is funniest 00:07  |  Nemesis 29/06/09
      54.   Eli - if it is not about land, then it should be 02:10  |  Mark Lincoln 29/06/09
      55.   Hee! Haw! 05:06  |  Jim 29/06/09
      56.   Mark Lincoln _ Missles Flew Into Israel from North and South 05:10  |  Eli 29/06/09
      57.   #23 Mark Lincoln 05:25  |  Jim 29/06/09
      58.   #3 Chris Linthwaite 05:59  |  Jim 29/06/09
      59.   #41michael at b/snews and slogans without evidence 07:18  |  v hardman 29/06/09
      60.   It`s just head games 16:43  |  Harold 29/06/09
      61.   Bibi, which heads of which states? 22:13  |  ragged soul 30/06/09
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