Posted on 11/09/2009 12:56:20 PM PST by Saoirise
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu declared that he wanted to immediately resume negotiations with the Palestinians Monday and rejected the charge that he wasn't interested in reaching an agreement.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addresses the 2009 General Assembly of The Jewish Federations of North America on Monday. Photo: AP "We need to move toward peace with a sense of urgency and a sense of purpose," Netanyahu told the Jewish Federations of North America's General Assembly during a trip to Washington. "My goal is not negotiations for the sake of negotiations; My goal is to achieve a permanent peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians, and soon. I cannot be more emphatic on this point."
Critics of Netanyahu, particularly in the Arab world, have accused the prime minister of not being sincere in his desire to reach a peace agreement which would include Israeli concessions.
Netanyahu has repeatedly stressed that he's willing to start talking, and the Israelis have been pointing to the Palestinians as setting the precondition of a total settlement freeze as holding up progress.
RELATED 'We mustn't miss opportunity for peace' Video: Expert: Obama, Netanyahu have to bite the bullet "But to get to a peace agreement we need to start negotiating," he said to a receptive crowd. "Let's get on with it. Let's move."
He delivered a personal message to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, urging him, "Let us begin talks immediately ... let us seize the opportunity to reach a historic agreement."
Ping to your Bibi list. He’s supposed to meet with O tonight....
Netanyahu should set the conditions that will bring an end to Israeli aggressive defensive measures.
“Israel will not attack anyone and will freeze all settlement when a bomb or rocket does not detonate inside our boarders for a period of 365 days. On the 366th day, we will meet again to discuss recognizing some territory for your state. Agreed?”
“No?”
“Well the world can’t say I didn’t try.”
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