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World Jewish News
Netanyahu: We've given meaning to two-state solution
05.07.2009
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday by saying that not only did his government not get the customary 100-day grace period, he did not receive "a single day of grace."
The prime minister added that one of the most important achievements of the first 100 days of his administration was the infusion of "real meaning" into the two-state solution.
Netanyahu listed the achievements of his administration so far, saying that the first of these was the "establishment of a unity government. We have achieved a wide national consensus on the idea of 'two states for two peoples.'"
"The Palestinians will have no choice but to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, the [Palestinian] refugees issue will be resolved outside of Israel, and Israel will be entitled to defensible borders with full demilitarization of the Palestinian state," the prime minister went on to say.
Netanyahu added two more achievements to the list ? "quiet in southern Israel and power of deterrence. I have ordered that Israel respond to every rocket, and that is what is happening," he said, referring to the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into Israel's southern towns.
Earlier Sunday, Information Minister Yuli Edelstein said that Netanyahu had stressed during the morning meeting that Israel "has made no commitments to the Americans regarding the freezing of construction in Judea and Samaria."
Meanwhile Sunday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said he would discuss with a U.S. envoy on Monday a compromise over a peace plan calling for an Israeli settlement freeze and seek ways to promote regional peace.
Barak, who last met envoy George Mitchell on Tuesday in New York, travels to London later on Sunday for another round of talks aimed at narrowing a rift with U.S. President Barack Obama, who has demanded a halt to settlement activity.
He told reporters he was aiming for a "broader understanding with the United States on diplomatic moves, including a comprehensive regional agreement".
Barak said Israel was also seeking "a way to translate" the road map, a 2003 peace plan, into "a path acceptable to us, the United States and others".
After last meeting Mitchell, Barak made a link between any Israeli agreement to limit settlement expansion and progress on Arab states "normalizing" relations with Israel.
Barak has publicly raised the possibility Israel might temporarily refrain from starting new building projects - while continuing many under way - in settlements in return for initial steps towards a regional peace agreement.
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Источник: Haaretz
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