BICOM

Delivering a Knesset speech yesterday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a clear message to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas that Israel is ready for peace talks.

Netanyahu took to the podium during a Knesset debate on the peace process and the Arab Peace Initiative, which came into the spotlight last month after the Arab League softened its’ terms for a comprehensive peace with Israel. Addressing Abbas, Netanyahu said “Since he doesn’t speak Hebrew, and my Arabic is only so-so, I will turn to him in a language we both understand,” declaring in English “I say, give peace a chance.”

Netanyahu further commented, “I invited Abbas when I spoke at the UN, I invited him in Washington, I invited him at the Knesset plenum… We need to sit down, make our various demands and try to reach real peace. This is my goal, and I hope it will also be the goal of Palestinian leaders as well.”

Israel’s Prime Minister reiterated, “We are in favour of starting negotiations immediately without preconditions.” However, Abbas has insisted that before talks can take place, Israel must first freeze all settlement construction, agree to 1967 borders plus swaps, and release pre-Oslo prisoners. Netanyahu urged Abbas to drop such demands, saying “We will listen to any initiative and are willing to discuss any offer that is not a dictate.” He declared himself “ready to make tough decisions,” in order to reach an agreement but emphasised “the Palestinians will have to do so as well.”

In response, leader of the opposition and Labour Party head Shelly Yachimovich urged Netanyahu to “Be brave. Make your last term as prime minister one that matters” and agree a peace accord. However, she added “No one is living in a fantasy that we’ll come to an agreement tomorrow. It’s all right to be sceptical… but we must set that goal.”