Monday, August 24, 2009

'Israel won't accept limitations on its sovereignty in Jerusalem'

Aug. 24, 2009
Herb Keinon, traveling with the prime minister , THE JERUSALEM POST

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will make it clear in his discussions with US and European officials abroad that Israel will not accept any limitations on its sovereignty in Jerusalem, sources at the prime minister's office said, immediately before his plane took off from Tel Aviv on Monday afternoon. The PMO sources said Netanyahu also stressed that the normal life in the settlements will need to be assured.

Netanyahu was leaving Israel for a visit in London and Berlin, where he is scheduled to meet with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US special Mideast envoy George Mitchell.

In his meetings with Brown and Merkel, Netanyahu will raise the need to apply maximum pressure on Iran "in order to stop their nuclear march," the sources said, adding that the prime minister discussed the matter with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday night.

In addition to the Iranian nuclear threat, Netanyahu will discuss bilateral security issues with his European counterparts.

Regarding Netanyahu's meeting with Mitchell, which will be held in London early on Wednesday morning, the sources said that while there has been a certain degree of progress in the discussions leading up to the meeting, a "breakthrough" is not expected.

The sources reiterated remarks made by Netanyahu on Sunday, noting that the Israeli-Palestinian peace process was expected to resume in the end of September.
This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com /servlet/Satellite?cid=1249418685029&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull

Comment: Remember, "settlements" is a political description of towns and cities inhabited by Israeli citizens living in the disputed territories of Judea and Samaria.

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