Netanyahu: I don't want to rule in West Bank

Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu told a group of European ambassadors in Tel Aviv that he has no interest in Israel ruling over Palestinians in the West Bank and that he is more optimistic about the Palestinian negotiating track than the Syrian.

"I'm not interested in continuing to control the lives of Palestinians," Netanyahu told them. The meeting between Netanyahu and the diplomats had been planned long in advance, but he recently asked French ambassador Jean-Michel Casa, whose country holds the EU presidency until the end of the month, to postpone the meeting until after Likud primaries.

The Likud chief emphasized the importance he placed on the Palestinian issue, saying he has no intention of stopping negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. Netanyahu asked several times during the meeting to avoid forming preconceptions about him. "Let the facts speak for themselves, and not stereotypes," he said.

"Most of the people of Israel want peace, security and a process that leads to both, and that is not the exclusive property of only one party," he said. "In contrast to all those who think otherwise, a government headed by Likud will continue the political dialogue with the Palestinians," he added. "I'm against political stagnation - but my path is different. The vast majority, including within Likud, do not want to rule over the Palestinians, and whoever says differently is mistaken."

"Through the framework of negotiations, [the Palestinians] will have all the privileges of citizenship, but Israel will have to make sure it is not taking steps that harm its security," reiterated Netanyahu.

The Likud chief said he does not know the substance of Israeli-Palestinian talks conducted under outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, but that he "received the impression that negotiations over a final status agreement had failed." He said his program of "economic peace" is not an alternative to political dialogue, but "will be carried out in parallel, and will reflect positively on negotiations."

One of the diplomats asked Netanyahu how the election of hard-line candidate Moshe Feiglin would affect the Likud's position, to which he replied: "There won't be mutinies within Likud." Netanyahu said he would work to assemble a unity government, noting "I've learned from experience that to encourage progress, a wide government is needed."

The ambassadors also asked Netanyahu about compromises he was willing to make on Jerusalem and borders, to which he replied only that he would operate according to the principle of reciprocity and security considerations, and that he sees no point in declaring what he would be prepared to give up at the outset of talks.