Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Man Tries to Order Priciest Starbucks Drink Ever Total cost: $23.60 »

Israel Open to Demilitarized Palestinian State: Netanyahu

By Drew Nelles,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 14, 2009 1:16 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu today called for the creation of a limited Palestinian state for the first time, saying it would have to be disarmed. Netanyahu spoke during a major policy speech about his Mideast peacemaking intentions, in which he called on Palestinian leaders to restart peace negotiations. "In any peace agreement, the territory under Palestinian control must be disarmed, with solid security guarantees for Israel," he said.

Up to now Netanyahu has resisted endorsing the creation of a Palestinian state as part of a Mideast peace settlement, drawing intense pressure from the administration of President Barack Obama. Netanyahu also said the Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and he declared that the solution of the Palestinian refugee problem must be "outside Israel." Netanyahu also called for Arab leaders to meet him and contribute to Palestinian economic development.

An Israeli man tears posters, hung by an extremist right wing group, depicting President Barack Obama wearing a traditional Arab headdress, in Jerusalem, Sunday, June 14, 2009.
An Israeli man tears posters, hung by an extremist right wing group, depicting President Barack Obama wearing a traditional Arab headdress, in Jerusalem, Sunday, June 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
Israeli Prime Benjamin Netanyahu, under stiff US pressure to freeze West Bank settlement construction and endorse Palestinian statehood, delivered Sunday a major peace address.
Israeli Prime Benjamin Netanyahu, under stiff US pressure to freeze West Bank settlement construction and endorse Palestinian statehood, delivered Sunday a major peace address.   (AP Photo/Jim Hollander, pool)
Painted into a corner by his own right-wing coalition and an American president bent on progress toward peace, Benjamin Netanyahu is approaching the moment when he'll have to choose one or the other.
Painted into a corner by his own right-wing coalition and an American president bent on progress toward peace, Benjamin Netanyahu is approaching the moment when he'll have to choose one or the other.   (AP Photo/Dan Balilty, Files)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Let us begin peace negotiations immediately, without preconditions. Israel is committed to international agreements and expects all the other parties to fulfill their obligations as well. - Benjamin Netanyahu

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
Stuart
Jun 15, 2009 12:40 PM CDT
Snow - you know better and you know you now better. Our aid to srael is in the form of military assistance that must be spent here in the US. In return, we get intel that we get nowhere else, weapons systems, training, etc, etc etc. Those who actually k ow and understand US policy say again and again that our aid to Israel is the best value on our dollar we get. Those whose hatred of Israel is far greater than their care for the US love to rail against that.
Stuart
Jun 15, 2009 12:37 PM CDT
Fancy, IIf you look at the relevant statistic, you will see that you are wrong. While deaths on the Palestinian are higher, the fact is that deaths on the Palestinian side is between 50% and 80% militant/terrorists (take your pick on word) while 80-90% of the deaths on the Israeli side are innocents. Israel targets the militant/terrorists and sometimes there are civilian casualties, as there are in every war. The Palestinians target Israeli civilians. Thats not 'unequal',its Crimes Against Humanity and it IS entriely wong.
Stuart
Jun 15, 2009 12:26 PM CDT
There were no settlements in '63 when the PLO began crossing the border to massacre children in Kibutzes. In fact there weren't any settlements from 1948 to 1967 when the WB and Gaza were ruled by Jordan and Egypt. Bet they could have created Palestine with the wave of their hand. But it was about destroying Israel. And the Palestinians were just pawn in that game. But willing pawns. They screamed for everything or nothing, with the constant result of nothing. Perhaps now they will make the compromises necessary for peace and a state of their own.

Most Israelis support evacuating illegal settlements
Jerusalem Post (Israel)

Carter: US and Israel moving toward 'head-on collision'
AFP

 
Palestinian Authority • Israel • Middle East • Palestine • Benjamin Netanyahu • Israel and Palestinians • Arabs • refugee • Arab Israeli conflict • Mideast peace talks

More Newser Stories

Israel Frees Another 550 Palestinians

Panetta to Israel: 'Just Get to the Damn Table'

Israel Punishing Palestinians With Rushed Settlements

Israel to Free Bombers, Killers in Soldier Swap

Israel Freeing 1K Palestinians to Bring Soldier Home
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne