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Netanyahu to Push Israel-Palestinean Peace

But incoming PM ducks question of statehood

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 25, 2009 7:47 AM CDT

(Newser) – Benjamin Netanyahu, the next prime minister of Israel, said in a speech today that his incoming government would be a "partner for peace" with the Palestinian people, but he made no mention of the two-state solution backed by the United States. As Reuters reports, Netanyahu focused on the territories' economy, saying, "If we have a strong Palestinian economy, that's a strong foundation for peace."

Netanyahu's speech, given a day after he enticed the center-left Labor Party to join right-wing parties in his coalition, was designed to ease concerns in Washington and Palestine about his seeming reluctance to pursue a peace settlement. A spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, said that he wanted the next government to be "committed in an explicit manner, without ambiguity, to the two-state solution."

[Images (4)]

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Israel's Prime Minister designate Benjamin Netanyahu is seen before giving a speech at an economic conference in Jerusalem, Wednesday, March 25, 2009. Netanyahu on Wednesday promised to resume peace talks... (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Israeli Defense Minister and Labor Party leader Ehud Barak, left, and Israel's Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands, during a meeting in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)

Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu attends a meeting at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, Monday, March 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Dan Balilty)

Israel's Likud party leader and Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shake hands before their meeting in Jerusalem Tuesday, March 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Ronen Zvulun, Pool)

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The economic track is not a substitute for political negotiations, it's a complement to them. - Benjamin Netanyahu

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Netanyahu to Push Israel-Palestinean Peace