Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Netanyahu tries to focus attention on Palestinian obstinacy


Netanyahu: Recognize Israel as Jewish

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told [his] Cabinet:

"I would like to set one thing straight in advance simply because it has been in the media incorrectly today. We insist that the Palestinians - in any diplomatic settlement with us - will recognize the State of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people. The entire international community demands that we recognize the principle of two states for two peoples and we are discovering that this is two states but not for two peoples but two states for one people, or two states for a people-and-a-half."

"There is no doubt that we are being asked to recognize the Palestinian state as the national state for the Palestinian people, but...the Palestinians have no intention of recognizing the national state of the Jewish people."

"We have no intention of ruling over the Palestinians. We want for them to rule themselves, except for those powers that could threaten our security and our existence. But we insist that they recognize the State of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people. We have never conditioned the start and existence of talks on advance agreement about this, but neither can we see progress on a future settlement without their agreement to this condition."
(Prime Minister's Office)
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UPDATES:

The Two Nation-State Solution -Ari Shavit

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not about the occupation. If it were, it would have erupted in 1967 and not in 1920. The only way to peace is by means of true mutual recognition. Peace will not be achieved without Israeli recognition of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian nation-state, and without Palestinian recognition of the Jewish people and the Jewish nation-state. Israel has recognized the Palestinian people and agreed to the establishment of a Palestinian state. However, in no case - neither at Oslo, Camp David or Annapolis - did the Palestinians go a parallel distance. To this day they do not recognize the Jewish people, its rights or its nation-state.

It is out of the question for Israel to recognize the Palestinian people's right of self-determination in advance, while the Palestinians refuse to recognize the Jewish people's right of self-determination. That asymmetry will not lead to peace. In this specific case Netanyahu is right. On this issue of principle he is expressing the firm opinion of the Israeli majority.
(Ha'aretz)


Recognition of 'Jewish state' is crucial
Abbas delivered a speech rejecting Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's demand that the PA recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Last week senior Palestinian officials also rejected Netanyahu's demand.

"We don't accept the term 'Jewish state' and insist on achieving all our rights."
[Jerusalem Post]
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