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Last update - 19:56 30/08/2009
'Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel is destroying peace bids'
By Haaretz Service
Tags: israel news 

The catalyst behind the long-lasting dispute between Israel and the Palestinians is the latter's unwillingness to recognize Israel's right to exist, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview to Israel Radio on Sunday.

When asked whether he thought the original sin of Israeli society was the occupation since 1967 of the West Bank, Netanyahu said that "the original sin was that the Jewish people couldn't protect itself from the verbal and physical assaults which ultimately brought to its destruction."

"I think that in 1967 the Jewish people were on the brink of destruction and the sin would have been our inability to defend ourselves the way we wanted to," the PM added, saying that he regretted "the fact that our glorious victory is presented as the mother of all sin."
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Netanyahu said, however, that Israel does "not want to control the Palestinians, we want to reach a settlement," but that the reason for the peace talk stalemate isn't "because of the State of Israel but because of the other side's persistent refusal to recognize the right of the State of Israel to exist."

"I believe that the things I am doing to make that point clearer will lead to their recognition of Israel's right to exist, which will remove the malignant element preventing the peace we want so dearly," the PM added.

On word of an agreement between the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama on a future construction freeze in all West Bank settlements, the PM said that "no decision has been made, and we have not reached an agreement with the United States."

"There are a lot of rumors and a lot of newspaper articles, none of which are my responsibility. We haven't agreed to anything yet, we are still working toward advancing peace talks while safeguarding settlers' rights, who are equal citizens," Netanyahu said.

"Any decision is bound to disappoint someone, every side saying you should have done things differently, but I will conduct myself in the way I believe will promote Israel and peace, something which is ultimately appreciated by civilians as well as Knesset Members."

Regarding comments made by Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon, who told a closed-door meeting of far-right activists a few weeks ago that he was "not afraid of the Americans" and that anti-settlement groups like Peace Now were "viruses" to Israel, Netanyahu made it clear that he found those remarks unacceptable.

"I've discussed the matter with minister Ya'alon and he made it clear to me that that was not his intention. I assume he will never use that term again," Netanyahu said.

"The Left is not a virus, settlers are not a cancer. We have legitimate disagreements, but we must maintain our unity by respecting our political adversaries."

When asked about his 1999 comment, that the "Left forgot what it meant to be Jewish" the PM said that "It was a mistake then, and it's still a mistake."

"Of course I have changed, it's the result of age and wisdom, both of which tell me one thing - we are one people and I am the prime minister of all of us."

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      1.   trying to do "statesman" 12:35  |  Murray 30/08/09
      2.   If this is the case. Then Israel refuse to recognise "Palestine" 12:36  |  JO 30/08/09
      3.   They have recognized Israel 13:26  |  John of Jordan 30/08/09
      4.   Conflict didn`t start in 1967.Pals didn`t drop ROR in 1967 13:27  |  Sam 30/08/09
      5.   Road Map 13:58  |  Iain 30/08/09
      6.   Pals repeatedly show 2-states are stepping stone to Pal hegemony 14:36  |  Joe Sittizen 30/08/09
      7.   Whatever the palestinian leadership do 14:43  |  C2 30/08/09
      8.   Two State Israel 14:47  |  Barry Larkman 30/08/09
      9.   The root cause of the Arab Israeli conflict is the Arabs` refusal 14:55  |  Amihai 30/08/09
      10.   Geneva violation 14:59  |  PM Balkenende 30/08/09
      11.   Israel`s 1967 victory was indeed a glorious existential deed... 15:33  |  Esther 30/08/09
      12.   Bibi lies, his Likud Charter proves it... 15:46  |  BBSNews 30/08/09
      13.   Israel should recognize Palestinan rights first 15:47  |  GaileeHero 30/08/09
      14.   there are good reasons why Bibi must demand recognition of Israel 15:52  |  zionist forever 30/08/09
      15.   it is Jerusalem ,stupid 16:00  |  moonis 30/08/09
      16.   safeguarding the settler´s rights 16:04  |  natterer 30/08/09
      17.   recognizing israel 16:14  |  recher 30/08/09
      18.   Pals recognize Israel+demand unlimited ROR into it 16:27  |  Sam 30/08/09
      19.   Bibi says Yallons "remarks" are unacceptable 17:01  |  jim the mechanic 30/08/09
      20.   Bibi`s "mother of all sins" did begin in 1967 - Settlements! 17:07  |  Ivar 30/08/09
      21.   The 1948 Declaration of Independence of Israel refers 7 times ... 17:11  |  Smadar 30/08/09
      22.   Netanyahu agrees with him probably 17:18  |  Basil 30/08/09
      23.   US is responsible for Israeli evasions of peace 17:19  |  Ivar 30/08/09
      24.   Palestinians don`t recognize us in any form-THAT`s FACT 17:25  |  Arie 30/08/09
      25.   "GaileeHero" - check your facts please 17:27  |  Arie 30/08/09
      26.   Nonsense 17:29  |  Israel 30/08/09
      27.   Israel`s refusal to recognize Right of Return is destroying peace 17:48  |  Isaac 30/08/09
      28.   #21 Smadar 18:05  |  BDS 30/08/09
      29.   Abbas has no credibility 18:10  |  MichaelF 30/08/09
      30.   Israel, 26, religious freedom stops at neghbour`s property line 18:11  |  Ivar 30/08/09
      31.   #27 - Isaac 18:13  |  MichaelF 30/08/09
      32.   #21 - Smadar 18:15  |  MichaelF 30/08/09
      33.   So much on the brink of destruction 18:28  |  Peter 30/08/09
      34.   #31 MichaelF - not a special case 18:55  |  BDS 30/08/09
      35.   Real progress here 18:59  |  EGB 30/08/09
      36.   #20 Ivar totally wrong and missleading 19:11  |  arik 30/08/09
      37.   The Palestinians also support the Arab Peace Initiative 2002 19:15  |  Smadar 30/08/09
      38.   Shame on Netanyahu 19:16  |  Zarthustra 30/08/09
      39.   Bibi, don`t kid yourself. 19:18  |  Tzfonit 30/08/09
      40.   recognition is a two way street 19:20  |  peter rouget 30/08/09
      41.   Peace of War. If war, it`ll be a lot longer than 6 days. 19:20  |  Lou Medel 30/08/09
      42.   Give Bibi a break 19:33  |  Rachel Carter 30/08/09
      43.   #15 moonis Speaking of the Ukraine.... 19:34  |  Smadar 30/08/09
      44.   How about preserving Palestinians` Rights? 19:50  |  The Machsom Watcher 30/08/09
      45.   Bibi the liar 19:56  |  zeev 30/08/09
      46.   If Pals recognize Israel, ... 19:56  |  Jasper 30/08/09
      47.   Re: #26/Israel - honest, heartfelt and disastrous 19:57  |  EGB 30/08/09
      48.   #43 Smadar in Toronto, Canada 20:02  |  Lou Medel 30/08/09
      49.   #27 - Right of Return IS 2-Way Street 20:03  |  Dallas 30/08/09
      50.   to #27 - On Right of Return - the Truth 20:10  |  Dallas 30/08/09
      51.   The government has recognized Israel 20:18  |  Dave Duncan 30/08/09
      52.   If Hamas denies the Shoah as an historical event 20:35  |  Paul Freedman 30/08/09
      53.   turning back the clock 20:40  |  peter rouget 30/08/09
      54.   Islamist-Jihadist intransigience is the obstacle to peace 21:05  |  Brod 30/08/09
      55.   Bibi the Cameleon. How can he keep a straight face saying this ? 21:10  |  Mark 30/08/09
      56.   How can the PM ask PLO to recognize Israel as a Jewish State 21:18  |  Haroun A. Rashid 30/08/09
      57.   Jasper - got an example.... 21:28  |  CJ 30/08/09
      58.   Anyone remember when Faisel Al-Husseini 21:48  |  RfaelMoshe 30/08/09
      59.   Not much of a statesman, is he? 01:16  |  Johnboy 31/08/09
      60.   Good on you BB 02:10  |  Michelle 31/08/09
      61.   Palestinian peace??? 03:12  |  Michelle 31/08/09
      62.   #51 Don`t Let tthe Truth Get in the Way of your Bias 07:29  |  Alan 31/08/09
      63.   31# mickeal 02:53  |  phillip 20/09/09
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