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Last update - 22:26 12/07/2009
Netanyahu: Palestinian recognition of Jewish state 'key to peace'
By Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Tags: west bank settlements 

Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Sunday that the recognition by the Palestinians of Israel as a Jewish state was key to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"I am convinced that the root of the solution is in the refusal to recognize the Jewish state," said Netanyahu at a state ceremony to mark the 105th anniversary of the death of Theodor Herzl, the father of modern Zionism.

"Therefore, the key to peace is the explicit recognition by the Palestinians of Israel as a Jewish state."
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The premier made the same demand in a key policy speech he delivered a month ago at Bar Ilan University, naming it as his condition for supporting the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state.

At the ceremony, which took place at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, where the Zionist visionary is buried, Netanyahu added: "I look forward to the day when the moderate leaders of the Palestinians will stand in front of their people and clearly state: 'We've had enough of this conflict, [and] we recognize the right of the Jewish People to a state of its own' - and we will live alongside them in real peace the moment these words are spoken."

Netanyahu further said that Palestinians "must finally abandon the demand" to resettle families of hundreds of thousands of refugees in Israel, which he said could undermine the country's existence.

Netanyahu says ready for immediate peace talks with PA

Earlier Sunday, Netanyahu said he was prepared to meet immediately with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to advance the peace process.

"I call again on the Palestinian leadership in Judea and Samaria [the West Bank], to the leaders of the Palestinian Authority, let us meet. Let us make peace, diplomatic peace and economic peace," Netanyahu told ministers at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.

"There is no reason for Abu Mazen and myself not to meet anywhere in the country," he added. "Since we are here in Be'er Sheva, I say to him: Let us meet here and begin to advance peace for the benefit of both our peoples."

But Abbas said at a news conference on Sunday that for negotiations on the key issues to resume, there must be a complete halt to settlement activities. Netanyahu has been unwilling to do this, despite U.S. pressure.

Ministers convened this week in Be'er Sheva, instead of Jerusalem, as part of the government's desire to show its commitment to developing the economy in the Negev.

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat also responded to Netanyahu's call by saying Israel must first be willing to honor previous obligations, such as freezing all West Bank settlement construction, before the PA would agree to talks.

Erekat said that all key issues must also be put on the table and that the Palestinians do not want Netanyahu to use such calls as public relations.

Prior to the elections, Netanyahu presented his program for "economic peace," which he said would improve the quality of life for Palestinians in the West Bank. However, 100 days after having formed his coalition government, there is no practical progress on economic projects.

Palestinians block progress

The main reason for this is the refusal of senior Palestinian Authority officials to cooperate with Netanyahu and Vice Premier Silvan Shalom, who has been assigned the task of promoting the "economic peace" initiative.

During Sunday's cabinet meeting, Netanyahu listed the measures to ease life in the West Bank that he has approved, and called on the Palestinians to cooperate.

"I would like to make it clear that all of these efforts are unilateral on Israel's part," he said. "All these efforts can only go so far, and the results will multiply many times if only there is cooperation from the other side."

The ministerial committee handling the matter met again last week, deciding to open the Allenby Bridge to traffic 24 hours a day to encourage Palestinian imports and exports to Jordan.

Shalom also presented a list of projects that had been delayed for years due to various bureaucratic difficulties. These include an industrial zone in Bethlehem, (funded by France), as well as one near Jenin (funded by Germany and another near Jericho (paid for by Japan). Netanyahu had instructed all ministries to further his "economic peace" efforts by getting rid of red tape.

The committee also discussed the PA's role in blocking progress. In essence, its senior officials are boycotting their Israeli counterparts.

Abbas refuses to meet Netanyahu, and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad will not meet with Silvan Shalom, while Palestinian officials are not permitted to meet their Israeli counterparts.

"Israel wants to promote economic peace, and I am calling for increased cooperation from the Palestinians," Shalom said during the meeting.

According to a senior political source, all contacts on economic issues with Palestinian officials are carried out through the Quartet's special envoy, Tony Blair. Even though the former British prime minister is pressing the Palestinians to meet with the Israelis, he has been unsuccessful.

"The Palestinians are concerned that if they cooperate on economic peace, Israel will be able to avoid the political process," the source said.

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      1.   True, but with the usual omission 10:49  |  John E. Smoke 12/07/09
      2.   Land of Israel 10:57  |  Khaled 12/07/09
      3.   The PA have effectively been silenced 11:09  |  redbourn 12/07/09
      4.   PA rejects - as always 11:13  |  David Plane 12/07/09
      5.   Netanyahu ready for immediate talks with President Abbas 11:25  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/07/09
      6.   We should be building homes inside of Israel where they belong 11:26  |  Yishai Cohen 12/07/09
      7.   No middle ground for Palestinians or Israeli right 11:34  |  Sam 12/07/09
      8.   arabs save israels" bacon " once more 11:35  |  v hardman 12/07/09
      9.   Haaretz, pl put out my post 11:48  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/07/09
      10.   # 2 Khaled 12:08  |  Joseph .E 12/07/09
      11.   Israel was always ready for talks 12:13  |  Axel 12/07/09
      12.   # 6 Yishai Cohen 12:14  |  Joseph .E 12/07/09
      13.   Netanyahu wants talk. World wants action from him. 13:00  |  Michael 12/07/09
      14.   Israel already has economic peace, enought ?? 13:04  |  Joe W 12/07/09
      15.   Talk, talk, talk as long as Israel can continue building 13:09  |  Saul 12/07/09
      16.   CAN ANYONE TELL ME 13:17  |  steve 12/07/09
      17.   Another Excuse To Delay Renewing Peace Talks? 13:23  |  Jeff Northridge 12/07/09
      18.   Bibi can`t bring peace. Only outisde intervention can. 13:25  |  Michael 12/07/09
      19.   Temporal freeze (3-6 months) conditioned on talk 13:34  |  17 12/07/09
      20.   Michael-Pals want outside intervention to topple Israel 13:56  |  Sam 12/07/09
      21.   The framework is there for a Palestinian State or maybe Jordan 13:58  |  feige 12/07/09
      22.   # 16 steve 14:17  |  Axel 12/07/09
      23.   Abbas should agree.Is Camp David available-is Obama too hideous? 14:20  |  feige 12/07/09
      24.   # 19 the number boy 14:21  |  Axel 12/07/09
      25.   When is Israel going to get it--talks about talks 14:24  |  Labhras 12/07/09
      26.   Of course, Sadat came to Israel as head of State to acknowledge 14:31  |  feige 12/07/09
      27.   The fantasy world of Mr. Northridge 14:38  |  Murray 12/07/09
      28.   # 26 feige 17:44  |  Axel 12/07/09
      29.   #28 Axel 19:18  |  Sarah 12/07/09
      30.   #17 jeff 19:33  |  Axel 12/07/09
      31.   Pals never wanted a lot of Jews let alone a Jewish state 19:48  |  Sam 12/07/09
      32.   Actions concrete ones 20:06  |  American 12/07/09
      33.   The key to peace is shrinking settlements 20:32  |  Esther 12/07/09
      34.   Recognition of Israel.Ha! 20:45  |  Citizen of the World 12/07/09
      35.   Shrinking settlements is only one key among many to peace 21:02  |  brxonite10 12/07/09
      36.   and in a related development.... 21:02  |  edgar 12/07/09
      37.   land of palestine 21:05  |  bitterblood 12/07/09
      38.   Cipora #5...if Bibi wants to take up where Olmert left off 21:07  |  Esther 12/07/09
      39.   Israel isn`t a Jewish state. 21:08  |  Michael 12/07/09
      40.   This time I agree with the Palestinian Position 21:12  |  Schmulkie Bernstein 12/07/09
      41.   Jewish state 21:33  |  alan 12/07/09
      42.   Can not be done........there are no Israeli borders 21:37  |  Harold 12/07/09
      43.   Tooo bad for Israel , it,s social welfare provider does not agree 21:47  |  Labhras 12/07/09
      44.   Recognizing Jewish state 21:54  |  graczek 12/07/09
      45.   Curious 21:56  |  Colin Wright 12/07/09
      46.   Threatened By Their Own Extremists 22:03  |  Douglas Fireman 12/07/09
      47.   Netanyahu 22:03  |  Steve 12/07/09
      48.   Jewish state?!?! 22:25  |  Shmulik 12/07/09
      49.   The velvet glove is extended 22:27  |  sabra 12/07/09
      50.   Cipora Julianna Kohn - To What Point? 22:41  |  Mark of Lewiston 12/07/09
      51.   #41, Mark of Lewiston 23:00  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/07/09
      52.   Harold 23:01  |  Jasper 12/07/09
      53.   Quid pro pquo 23:02  |  Fossil 12/07/09
      54.   Murray # 27 Either Side Can Suspend Talks (2nd try) 23:14  |  Jeff Northridge 12/07/09
      55.   To Axel re "Zionist colonial expansion" 23:15  |  Morris Valentine 12/07/09
      56.   There is no legal bais for Israel`s demand. It`s just another.. 23:17  |  CJ 12/07/09
      57.   Recognizing Israel AND the settlements. Read between the lines. 23:21  |  Maureen Ann 12/07/09
      58.   v hardman - got our shoes on the wrong feet too? 23:21  |  CJ 12/07/09
      59.   Smoke and mirrors 23:24  |  Michael N 12/07/09
      60.   Just another strawman Israel is using to avoid talks 23:25  |  zero tolerance 12/07/09
      61.   What the fuss about "Jewish state"? 23:28  |  Axel 12/07/09
      62.   Michael UK 23:31  |  17 12/07/09
      63.   steve - What money did Arafat take? 23:32  |  CJ 12/07/09
      64.   Jeff Northridge - another one with shoes on backwards 23:37  |  CJ 12/07/09
      65.   ISRAEL doesn`t recognize the Russians as Jewish?! 23:38  |  Shaul Ben-Yimini 12/07/09
      66.   Not Serious so long as Settlements continue 23:40  |  Shaul Ben-Yimini 12/07/09
      67.   Axel, Jewish geniuses and Jews with numbers 23:43  |  17 12/07/09
      68.   v hardman 8 23:44  |  potobac 12/07/09
      69.   Mark of Lewiston #43 You`re expecting rather a lot 23:46  |  richie 12/07/09
      70.   History lesson 23:51  |  ray 12/07/09
      71.   #43 Mark of Lewiston 23:55  |  Chris Linthwaite 12/07/09
      72.   PALS don`t deserve a statehood. theu don`t want peace with Jweish 23:57  |  Vittorio 12/07/09
      73.   the jewish state 00:14  |  tony 13/07/09
      74.   Michael # 37 _ Go Back To The Drawing Board 00:24  |  Eli 13/07/09
      75.   Michael # 37 _ Go Back To The Drawing Board 00:24  |  Eli 13/07/09
      76.   Israel wants to "talk" so they can foot-drag and delay 00:31  |  James 13/07/09
      77.   graczek # 41 Reservation No. 6 00:49  |  Jeff Northridge 13/07/09
      78.   Then there will never be peace 01:01  |  peacelover 13/07/09
      79.   The key to peace is shrinking settlements 01:02  |  Esther 13/07/09
      80.   The Key to peace is for Israel to admit its.. 01:15  |  maoriboy 13/07/09
      81.   Wedge between Fatah and Hamas 01:21  |  Fortuna Benmayor 13/07/09
      82.   Michael the UK is not a true democracy 01:31  |  Peter Williams 13/07/09
      83.   The Palestinians recognize Israel 01:36  |  thomas 13/07/09
      84.   Mutual Recognition: Jewish State vs. Admission of Pal Expulsions 01:43  |  Monitor 13/07/09
      85.   Recognize the Nakba 01:50  |  Yishai 13/07/09
      86.   Nabka 02:11  |  ray 13/07/09
      87.   Recognition of Israel as the Jewish state vs Settlement Halt. 02:39  |  Fortuna Benmayor 13/07/09
      88.   peacelover, is status quo good for you? 02:47  |  peacelover2 13/07/09
      89.   each country defines itself 03:12  |  Logic 13/07/09
      90.   I agree yet Disagree on the other point. 03:49  |  Donald B. Nemer Esq. 13/07/09
      91.   Netanyahu is right this is the key to the conflict 03:59  |  Abuya 13/07/09
      92.   #5 Israel wants to renege on a signed commitment, Cipora 04:55  |  Johnboy 13/07/09
      93.   To peacelover2: You misunderstand 05:11  |  peacelover 13/07/09
      94.   Build in Sderot (Yishai #6) 06:06  |  Steve of Mevaserret 13/07/09
      95.   DENIAL OF JEWISH NATIONALITY (Michael, 37) 06:15  |  Steve of Mevaserret 13/07/09
      96.   Khaled I agree totally plus syria 06:18  |  charro 13/07/09
      97.   #54 Steve of M...- "DESERTED WASTELAND", EH? 10:51  |  PADDY 13/07/09
      98.   #55 charro - Passports... 11:03  |  PADDY 13/07/09
      99.   What Israel? 15:26  |  KnownUnknown 13/07/09
      100.   Recognise Israel? 15:30  |  William 13/07/09
      101.   Recognition of Israel 16:01  |  Jonathan Usher 13/07/09
      102.   It`s called a peace treaty. 18:11  |  a wandering Jew 13/07/09
      103.   #61 a wandering jew - twisted, self-serving, logic! 04:00  |  PADDY 14/07/09
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