Netanyahu: Mideast deal possible in year if direct peace talks start
PM tells Council on Foreign Relations he did not resume post of premier in order to do nothing, says he is willing to make unprecedented concessions.
By Barak RavidNEW YORK - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on Thursday that if direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority begin, it would be possible to reach a peace deal within a year.
In his speech to the prestigious foreign-policy think tank, Netanyahu stressed that he did not return to the post of prime minister in order to do nothing and said he was willing to make unprecedented concessions.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in New York on July 8, 2010. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
One participant asked him whether direct talks with PA President Mahmoud Abbas, with U.S. President Barack Obama serving as mediator, would lead to an agreement within a year. "Yes, I think so," Netanyahu said.
When asked whether the freeze on settlement construction was likely to be extended, he avoided a clear answer. As in previous cases where he has been asked about this issue in recent weeks, his response could be interpreted as an intention either to build or to freeze.
"I did the temporary freeze as an incentive for the Palestinians to enter direct talks," Netanyahu said. "Now, seven months into the freeze, the Palestinians have not entered direct talks, and they already want to extend it. The right thing to do is to enter talks. We have shown good will ... I think we have done enough, let us move onto direct talks."
Netanyahu said security and legitimacy are the two essential components of real peace in the Middle East. He said there should be "two states for two peoples," but Israel's security must be guaranteed, and a "demilitarized Palestinian state must recognize the State of Israel."
During a separate interview with Larry King, Netanyahu was asked about his meeting with Obama.
"I think there's an underlying relationship there that people don't appreciate," he replied. "We have our ups and downs. People focus on the downs and the downs are exaggerated and sometimes distorted. But there [are] ups and there's a basic bedrock of identification, common values between Israel and the United States. I think there is a solidity of ties between Israel and the United States that the president of the United States and the prime minister of Israel reflect in their meeting."
Netanyahu used the interview to again urge Abbas to "meet me and let's talk peace."
"I use this forum today to say, President Abbas, meet me, and let's talk peace. We all have our grievances. We all have our, you know, our questions and things that we want answered. But the most important thing is to get together, sit down in a room and begin to negotiate peace. You cannot resolve a conflict, you cannot successfully complete a peace negotiation if you don't start it. And I say let's start it right now, today, tomorrow, in Jerusalem, in Ramallah or anywhere else. I'm prepared to go to a warm city like New York or a cool city anywhere. Let's get on with the business of talking peace and concluding the peace agreement."
Asked whether he would be willing to talk with Hamas, Netanyahu said he was willing to "sit down with anyone who will recognize my existence. Somebody who calls for our destruction, my destruction, is unfortunately not a partner for peace."
On the crisis with Turkey, Netanyahu said that "the relationship began to deteriorate with the Turkish policy, a new policy, that basically veers away from the West and I think Israel - what has happened with Israel [is] a result of that policy and not its cause.
"But nevertheless, I look for every opportunity to see if we can stop this deterioration and somehow get things back to normal or relatively normal. Last week, I authorized a meeting with one of my senior ministers and the Turkish foreign minister. They met in Zurich, in the airport. I can't tell you that something positive came out of it."
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... freeze should be implemented totally, seriously and honestly... no playing of avoidance games...
Israel begins honoring her commitments -- as in the Road Map, or the freeze that's supposed to be in place right now. I sympathize with the Palestinians. There's very little point in negotiating with someone who simply ignores every agreement they sign.
He has made it clear he's ready to talk. What's wrong with that? you can't get anywhere if you don't. But all i hear from you war mongers is don't talk go to war
bet you 1000:1 no "peace deal" by 9th july 2011.bet you 500:1 no deal by 2031...100:1 by 2100.bet you neither president obama,nor p.m. bibi would take me up on my seemingly generous odds.to be wrong,inshallah,is my fervent desire,so i can't lose.
1.Still speaking about "Jerusalem" (not even "East Jerusalem",which never was "theirs" in the first place) as their capital,implying that they want ALL of Jerusalem. 2.Still wanting the "right of return" of refugees to Israel-not to the future "Palestinian" State 3.Still unable to stop Hamas from firing rockets into Israel. 4 (and most important).Still Hamas refuses even to accept Israel's right to exist. But it's only Israel that has to make concessions,right?
Freeze settlement construction today. If, as you say, peace is possible within this year the freeze will not harm the settlers very much. Don't you think they are prepared to make that little sacrifice for the very much delayed peace deal and for the greater good of the Jewish people? They are patriots, of course they want to help! What's the worst thing that can happen? And if the worst thing you can think of is an inter-government crisis you need to adjust your priorities so that they are more in line with Israel's needs.
There will be no peace in Middle East unless Syria approve it. Wise up.
"....And I say let's start it right now..." Netanyaho . And this is what every israeli leader has already said .... a pernecious start that has no end in their minds. We say , if we have to start again, then the end must be imposed on both sides.
Yawn--------- somebody please wake me up if anything happens.
And with all Arab countries,and before some years on the base of Saudi peace plan which is learnt at Peres "center of peace"already from 4 years.But Bibi didn't finish the sentence:"peace could be reach in one year but without me,lieberman,eli ishai,joe lieberman,a.i.p.a.c,israel beiteinu,all the rabbis ,likud party and so on.
I agree with the first minister words. The next game move will be in the Abbas hand.
Netanyahu has to deal with a rabid right that the vast Israeli majority has not woken up yet, to say NO. If the Palestinians will show minimal good will by coming to the table, Netanyahu may sense history and political opportunity, and talk business.
Obama will be the backer for a two year run of a new comedy team. The funny man will be Benjamin Netanyahu, well known for his deadpan humor. Netanyahu must find a straight man who is willing to take a pie in the face every night without complaint.
i have always been and will probably always be FOR the land of israel, there were times when i've hated and spoken out against isael's enemies... i realize more and more everyday that my attitude did not help the peace process, a process which needs to begin in my heart before it sees the light of reality... when i say this i dont mean just my heart... there is too much hate between our peoples, now couldn't be a more important time to hate our hate... as leftist as it sounds (i'm a right-winger) we need to stop the hate, if the prime minister cannot say the word "please" because it would not be fitting words from his position i can understand that, so i will say them for him in the hopes that someone on the other side will read them and think the same, a chain reaction may occur, a domino-effect if you will, and hopefully the sentiment will grow in another's heart and be passed along... and so here it is... PLEASE... Abbas you are PRESIDENT of your peoples, i BEG you, give peace a chance, PLEASE let's talk peace, let's start before we finish, let's all make huge sacrifices so that our children can one day maybe even in the far future sit together and tell stories to each other of the day when we all gave peace a chance, lets not wake up tomorrow with hate, lets wake up with the thought of peace in our hearts, we owe it to our children, and we owe it to those that suffered as a consequence of our hate... haven't all our peoples suffered enough? haven't we all paid too high a price, we all have our grievances, we all have our differences, tomorrow, lets focus on our common ground, PLEASE GIVE PEACE A CHANCE, thank you for hearing these humble words from such a lowly man as me..
Start with an indefinite freeze on settlement construction to last for the duration of the peace talks. If Israel is not prepared to do this, then it is obviously a sham to fool Obama. The entire world, including America, and most especially the Palestinians have little reason to trust the sincerity of Israel. Everybody in the world has low expectations from a sudden Israeli push for direct peace talks. If Netanyahu doesn't freeze settlement construction for the duration of the talks, then any who participate are fools and nothing more.
So Bibi predicts, if all goes well, in a year or so, West Bank settlements will be dismantled, right of return will have been addressed so we can expect some return of refugees and a Palestinian flag will be fluttering somewhere in Jerusalem ! He is such a great story teller....
endless rounds of talks about nothing while settlements expand all over the place!
It's a problem if Jewish communities grow, but not a problem if Arab communities grow? Are you complaining about Arab settlements expanding all over the place too? Or is it just Jews who are required to curtail their own growth?
As we say in NZ: Yeah right. You have to freeze building in the occupied territories first Bibi. Man up
Except empty words from the left hand and threats and rockets from the right hand.
you lie so much on behalf of the hasbara machine to the point that i truly don't think that you believe half the crap you say. the freeze wasn't really a freeze, we all know that, settlements are still going up and there are thousands already approved for construction. nor was the disengagement from gaza an actual, uh, disengagement. israel likes to act the victim by pretending to want peace, and then they turn around and prove they want anything but. the world is fed up because this has been occuring for DECADES now.
Can you name any other ethnic communities which don't build?
more land grab.... more killing... israel needs to wake up and look at itself. it is not possible for israel to have its cake and eat it too. sadly you think it can
Netanyahu is all talk, smoke and mirrors. If Netanyahu was truly serious about peace he would comply with International law, binding UNSC resolutions and ICJ rulings at the Hague. He would announce unequivocally that the borders of a Palestinian state will be based on the 1967 borders with only very minor modifications. Security concerns can absolutely be worked out but the bottom line is this right wing government is far more interested in the colonization of the West Bank more than a true peace with the Palestinians. And Ted, New Zealand is a very beautiful country having been there for a visit last year.
Criminals do not "get" anything for not adding to their crimes and have not right to complain about the means by which their victims are resisting their aggression. If you want to negotiate over the pizza, stop eating the slices. You cannot talk and eat at the same time.
Hmmmmm...Bibi has me intrigued. Maybe he is talking about: 1967 borders (finally) with only small modifications. A sharing of East Jerusalem and an end to the idea that only Jews can rule over Jerusalem.
Palestinians have every reason to question anything PM Netanyahu says. The only peace he will offer will involve a demilitarised collection of Bantustans. And, there is more, Israel will have the "right" to control all decisions relating to external contacts, who is an acceptable Palestinian to live in these ----stans. It will be a replica of Vichy France. As a bonus for Israel, it will spend the next two hundred years hated by its neighbours.
You keep talking about what "concessions" you will make, and I have no trouble accepting that you don't want to say what your fallback positions are *before* the talks. But what is your starting position? What are you CLAIMING, even if we all understand that they are merely ambit claims? Everyone knows what Abbas' list of claims are - he keeps putting them on the table at every opportunity. But What Are YOUR List Of Claims?????
Control of all of Palestine, and the agreement of the Palestinians to live under substantial Jewish control for all time. Kind of a fallback from what Likud would REALLY like -- but hey. We all have to make concessions.
This looks like Bibi is telling the world some boring jokes as I wouldn't expect this statement "in the title" to be true since its made by someone who always shouts and claims "jerusalem to be his eternal capital"!!!
...what's your point?
Jerusalem has never been your capital, and it never will be if you zionists don't wake up and smell the starbucks (which is one of the companies we boycott)
Are you serious? Jews have held Jerusalem for less than 400 years of its 4000-year history. They neither founded it (Proto-Canaanties!) nor did they spend the most time there (Ottomans). What are you smoking, friend?
you want it all..... wont happen that way.
Eternal capital= no peace deal. an extremist like you should have been able to figure that out avi :)
absurd premises lead to absurd conclusions. So long as this "peacemaker" continues to erect racial colonies on stolen land there can be no peace.
... only sharing it as fairly as possible, East West, is the solution... we can't act like a small boy stamping his foot and insisting that it's ours only...
Good on ya Mr Netanyahu! I hope you are truly speaking from the heart and that you and Mr Abbas can get together and find common ground for a lasting peace.
Bibi's coalition cannot extend the “new settlement expansion freeze” without being in direct negotiation with the pals... If he tried to extend it past the 10 month limit, you would see elections...(which is not good due to Israel’s tendency to become more conservative when its threatened which would mean more power to Lieberman and shas)... If the pals really want a two state solution in the next two years then they have to sit down and talk face to face... Menachem Begin, a known terrorist (during British mandate) made peace with Egypt... How can Abbas know he does not have a peace partner if he is not willing to sit down and talk with Bibi?
what do you say the PA President Abbas should do at this point - take up PM Netanyahu's offer to begin direct negotiations as he's identified to you the seriousness of his intent on reaching a peace agreement? We weren't in the oval office with you so we don't really know how to respond or advocate. We'd appreciate a speedy response. Thanks.
Bibi you are a liar. Your government doesnt need or want peace as it has not completed its zionist agenda. Since 1982, the Israeli govt has talked about peace deals - please, just let the World know what you are after (Greater Israel) and be done with it.
Actions speak louder than words, Netanyahu has proven with his actions he does not want peace with a two state solution but a greater israel which occupies Palestine. There is only one way to defeat bullies, head on.
How very Palestinian of you.
I'd say meet the bully head on by cutting off US aid including US tax funded donations to illegal settlement activity, cease US protection re UN resolutions and if necessary impose a just settlement on the Israelis and Palestinians backed up by trade sanctions if necessary. Lots of ways to rein a bully if you think about it.
There is no such thing as benign occupation.
refusing to extend the freeze, refusing to recognize east jerusalem as a future palestinian capital, refusing to halt already "approved" settlement construction to the point that 42% of the west bank is now in israeli hands, continuing to illegally restrict the gazans' freedom of movement, refusing to define borders, continuing to illegally arrest west bank citizens and hold them without trial. those are some concessions you got there.
Stick the knife in 6 inches, remove it half an an inch and call it a "concession" as the victim bleeds to death.
refusing to extend the freeze, refusing to recognize east jerusalem as a future palestinian capital, refusing to halt already "approved" settlement construction to the point that 42% of the west bank is now in israeli hands, continuing to illegally restrict the gazans' freedom of movement, refusing to define borders, continuing to illegally arrest west bank citizens and hold them without trial. those are some concessions you got there.
There may be a refusal to extend the freeze, but there was still a freeze. Unfortunately, the Palestinians haven't come to the table yet. You don't know what will happen regarding Jerusalem, because the Palestinians haven't negotiated yet. 42% of the West Bank is NOT in Israeli hands. Gazan's movement isn't "illegally restricted," given that they are in a state of war with Israel. Border will be defined through negotiations, there is no "refusal" to define them. When you are at war, trials are NOT required. It would be stupid (a typical state of being for anti-Israelis). Maybe the Palestinians should make one simple concession for starters -- get into negotiations. They haven't even done THAT!
What good faith steps have the Palestinians made to warrant any past, present, or future concessions? ...besides responding with more harmful actions for Israel...
No halt to building in East Jerusalem, No stop of settlement expansion, no control over borders, coastline, air space and electronic spectrum for Palestine, Jordan valley under indefenite Israeli control - and what new concession, the Palestinians will be allowed to breathe ?
is something in his/her statement false? i don't think so... east jerusalem, true; settlements, true; borders, true; jordan valley and golan, true. so...? also i apologize for the double post above, flog me if ye must.
The alternative is bedlam.
May be "no halt to building" but there has still been a massive, unprecedented curtailment in building. Besides that, you don't know what the hell will be or won't be on the table. All your "no's," are pure speculation.
Right on. Thick as a brick best describes those that can't see what is ever so evident.
Lots of smoke and mirrors but nothing concrete will come out of it unless the US applies maximum pressure.
Unless maximum pressure applied on the arabs.