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Netanyahu: We don’t want to rule over Palestinians
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday said that Israel does not want to rule over the Palestinians, but neither does it want a terror state on its doorstep and that the key to peace is a demilitarized Palestinian state which recognises Israel as a Jewish State.
Speaking at the seventh conference of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu said that, “We don’t want to annex the Palestinians as Israeli citizens and we don’t want to rule over them.” On the other hand, Netanyahu said, “I also don’t want another terror state on our borders. We need to achieve both those goals.”
The key to realizing this he said “Is a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes Israel as the Jewish state. That is the only solution that will work.” Netanyahu explained, “The minute you demilitarize a state, you limit certain capabilities. That is necessary; that is the real Middle East.” Just as importantly, Netanyahu said, “The Palestinians must recognize Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people.” He commented that “the solution to the conflict is two sovereign states and mutual recognition,” and that “opposition to a Jewish state” is the root of the conflict.
Addressing the proposed framework to final status talks, which US Secretary of State John Kerry has discussed with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Netanyahu said the framework is a reflection of American positions and not Israeli positions. He commented Israel does not have to “agree with everything that the Americans present” but that “We are interested in continuing the negotiations and try to get to this agreement.”
Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas also addressed the conference via a video message. He said that “a transitional period” of a gradual Israeli military withdrawal from the West Bank “cannot exceed three years.” Israel maintains that a military presence would be required for significantly longer in the Jordan Valley, a position which is also thought to be shared by Jordanian leaders.