Sunday, June 14, 2009

Palestinians: Netanyahu is 'sabatoging' peace efforts

Haaretz Service and News Agencies

The Palestinian Authority on Sunday criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's highly anticipated foreign policy speech, in which he called for immediate peace talks and endorsed the creation of Palestinian state without military capabilities. An aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that the speech "sabatoges" regional peace efforts, due to Netanyahu's refusal to accept an influx of Palestinian refugees into Israel and his unwillingness to compromise on the status of Jerusalem.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said that Netanyahu "spoke about a Palestinian state, [but] after he removed from it the issue of Jerusalem, placed the issue of refugees outside negotiations, placed security outside negotiations when he spoke about a demilitarized Palestinian state."
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"Netanyahu tonight unilaterally ended the negotiations and there is no need for these negotiations anymore," he added.

Erekat also said that Netanyahu would "have to wait 1,000 years before he finds one Palestinian who will go along with him with this feeble state."

Hours before Netanyahu's addrtess, Palestinian officials said that a "yes or no" decision faces the Israeli leader regarding Middle East peace.

"What's required from Mr Netanyahu is a yes or a no - two states, accept agreements signed and to stop settlement activities including natural growth," said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, himself at loggerheads with Hamas, has said talks with Israel cannot resume until Netanyahu halts settlement and accepts a two-state solution.

1 comment:

Alan said...

Another case of the Arabs accusing Israel of that which they are guilty. The so-called "moderate" Fatah again demands complete Israeli capitulation before "negotiations."

Israel should expand settlements and built new ones whenever the Arabs refuse to negotiate.