Posted on 06/23/2009 11:25:09 AM PDT by Cinnamon Girl
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that international "arguing" over Israel's stance on settlements was impeding progress on the Middle East peace progress.
In an interview with Italy's RAI TV, Netanyahu insisted that settlement activity in East Jerusalem and the West Bank must be viewed as separate issues, as Jerusalem is an inseparable part of Israel.
He also said that Israel has been forthcoming with its intentions to halt construction while still allowing for natural growth in existing communities, which he called "an equitable position which reflexes our willingness to enter immediately in peace negotiations and get on with peace."
"I think that the more we spend time arguing about this, the more we waste time instead of moving towards peace," he said.
Netanyahu called his endorsement of a Palestinian state without military capabilities, which he presented in a policy speech at Bar Ilan University earlier this month, a "winning formula for peace."
"If we are asked to recognize a Palestinian state as the nation-state of the Palestinian people, then the very least is that the Palestinians should recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people," he told RAI TV.
"What does Palestinian self determination have to do with Qassam rockets or with deadly missiles?" he said, with regard to the notion of demilitarization, which invited a slew of criticism following his address. "The answer is nothing. They should have, the Palestinians, all the powers to govern themselves but not the powers to threaten the State of Israel."
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
The meeting with Mitchell was canceled and now this. I apologize in advance for the cheesy metaphor, but in the world chess game, Bibi has quickly recognized that Obama doesn't know the difference between the bishop and the rook. Or something like that.
Bibi's gutsy comments have to be embarrassing for the Obama team. Who exactly is calling the shots?
This is the Bibi ping list. If you would like to join, please let me know.
Bibi rocks!
Atta Man Bibi!!!
(Wonder Boy and her Cankleness will be very put out by this comment. Makes your day doesn't it? :))
triple amen to that!!! He’s the man.
Looks like Bibi read Harry Reid's Letter to Obama, and realized that Obama's positions do not represent Congress and are thus meaningless.
Bibi is a world-class leader.
If you'd like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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the more we spend time arguing about this, the more we waste time instead of moving towards peace
He's absolutely right, but BHO won't accept the concept, it would take weeks to reprogram TOTUS
Israel should tell America to get out of the Indians land that we took from them.
Good.
That is a good one! I live in one of the few Oklahoma counties that was never Indian land. We do not fall into any Indian territory but go a couple miles south and it is Indian territory.
The comments from the self-hating Jews under this article are just so telling. The same mindset gave Obama 78%—suicidal.
BiBi! Amerika is fallen!!! save your nation! do not trust any Promises the State Dept or Obama Make to you!!! They will betray you!
We are a Stalinist State now.....Our Govt will knife you in the Back.
No doubt. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if Bibi knew about Reid's letter before it was even sent.
they have negotiated nothing
built nothing
won nothing
fought for nothing
in fact they are the ones who should be annhihilated and removed from the face of the earth, for the betterment of civilization, not Israel.
A lot of Arabs and non-Jewish American/European libs read and post comments to Haaretz.
I think the concept of a separate “palestinian people” should be done away with, but the people who currently call themselves palestinians should be allowed to go live in Jordan.
WELL SAID and so TRUE!
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