Netanyahu Will Be A "Partner For Peace"

Incoming Israeli Leader Says He Will Resume Talks With Palestinians

(AP)  Israel's incoming prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Wednesday promised to resume peace talks with the Palestinians after he takes office, saying his government will be a "partner for peace."

The comments were the latest sign that Netanyahu is trying to temper his image as an opponent of the peace process. The Palestinians welcomed Netanyahu's words, but said his words must be matched by actions.

Netanyahu led his Likud Party to a strong showing in last month's parliamentary election by campaigning on a message that was harshly critical of the outgoing government's peace efforts. He said the Palestinians were not ready for independence, and said he would limit his efforts to developing their economy while continuing Israel's military occupation of the West Bank.

But facing the prospect of a clash with the Obama administration and the rest of the international community, Netanyahu has been softening his line in recent days.

Speaking at an economic conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said his development plan is not a substitute for political negotiations. "It's a complement to them," he said, calling a strong economy a "strong foundation for peace."

Netanyahu said that peace is a "common and enduring goal for all Israelis and Israeli governments, mine included. This means I will negotiate with the Palestinian Authority for peace."

"I think that the Palestinians should understand that they have in our government a partner for peace, for security, for the rapid development of the Palestinian economy," he added.

During a prime-time news conference Tuesday night, President Obama said finding peace between Israel and the Palestinians is, “not easier than it was, but I think it's just as necessary.”

"We don't yet know what the Israeli government is going to look like, and we don't yet know what the future shape of Palestinian leadership is going to be comprised of,” the president said. “What we do know is this: that the status quo is unsustainable, that it is critical for us to advance a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in their own states with peace and security." (Read more on Obama's comments on the Mideast.)

Netanyahu spoke just hours after the centrist Labor Party voted to join his coalition. The addition of Labor gives a moderate voice to what had been shaping up to be a narrow, hawkish coalition. Labor led the country for decades, and signed previous peace agreements with the Palestinians and Jordan in the 1990s.

In order to court Labor, Netanyahu promised to maintain peace negotiations. However, their deal was ambiguous about what exactly Netanyahu is prepared to offer.

Most critically, it does not explicitly call for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on captured lands now occupied by Israel, including the West Bank. Netanyahu has said he will allow existing Jewish settlements in the West Bank to expand.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat cautiously welcomed Netanyahu's comments, but said the new government must commit to establishing a Palestinian state.

"Any Israeli government that accepts the two-state solution, negotiates with us on all core issues without exception, and agrees to stop settlement activity ... will be a partner," he said. "It's time for deeds from both sides as far as their commitments are concerned, not words."

[earth562]

terrorism is the violent child of injustice, and israeli zionist politics the mother.

shalom
Posted by karlimhof at 2:18 AM : Mar 26, 2009


Nothing like twisting things heh...KarLIMPoff ?

[factsearcher]

This is why peace is not even close to happening in the ME or the world.

'Iran-Sudan-Hamas chain exposed'

"You'll have a bunch of Hizbullah agents who will procure arms through Sudan. They'll enter Egypt under forged documents, pay off disgruntled Beduins in the Sinai with things like light arms, cash, Lebanese hashish - which they can sell in the black market - and pay off Egyptian security guards as well so that they can travel covertly into Gaza to pass off the weapons shipments through Hamas's pretty extensive underground tunnel network."

It is impossible to verify the precise accuracy of these details. However, the involvement of Sudan in the Iranian-Hamas war effort would fit with the larger pattern of Sudan's regional alliances and activity. The close connections between Teheran, Khartoum and Hamas are a matter of public record.

The regime of Brigadier Omar al-Bashir in Sudan is, with the exception of the Hamas enclave in Gaza, the only overtly Islamist and pro-Iranian government in the Arabic-speaking world. Sudan is an acknowledged member of the Iran-led regional alliance, which includes Syria, Hizbullah in Lebanon, Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

[factsearcher]

Let's discuss this in a fair prospective.

Bibi's statement is that he is willing to work for peace with the palestinian people...so far so good.
Question: what is hamas, fatah offering the israelis for peace...have they promised to cease fire permanently..yeah sure.!.. just read yesterday's paper...they started all over again with the rockets.
The point is that all the bs talked in these postings boil down to one thing and one thing only...
The one sided primitive mentality that all has to be provided and given to these people that called themselves palestinians.
There was no Palestine, palestinians are merely par egyptian and part jordanians (look it up) nothing more than that.
Stolen land????????
History can tell you Israel was created by british mandate...and approved by the world.
I happen to think that israelis are bargaining with palis just to live in peace... and the worst part is that palis think they deserve everything....the whole land...
Just read the news about yesterday's celebration in Ramalah...they were celebrating the fact that Jerusalem "is" part of their land....
Re-education of the palis is a must before any peace is agreed or blood and more blood will be shed.
And by the way..to live side by side in peace...it means two states not one...tell that to the palis who doesnt and will not recognize Israel.
So, my question again- where is the fair agreement?

[karlimhof]

and what did Oslo or Madrid do for Israel .
Posted by dearth

your logic is; I stole your land, so now what's in it for me if I give it back

try that in Kansas and they'll hang you right and proper.

[karlimhof]

since the Oslo accords and subsequent assassination of Rabin by a right-wing , orthodox israeli extremist - one of many in that state - the peace process was effectively stopped.

the forces of extremism in israel are represented by those who refuse to return the ocuppied territories of the palestinians - they claim a "biblical" right to the land. netanyahoo is one those.

as it is clear that a settlement revolves principally around the return of the lands officially recognized as palestinian land, and the refusal to recognize israeli borders by the U.N. until that is accomplished - it remains to be seen if so-called israeli leaders will act in the interest of their people or continue the zionist madness of their "greater israel".

terrorism is the violent child of injustice, and israeli zionist politics the mother.

shalom

[white_dog_crap]

Give me a break. Nobody in their right mind would believe that headline for an instant. Netanyahu is a war criminal and should be persecuted as such.

[earth562]

a "partner for peace." nethanyahoo

kind of hard to imagine after he has rejected Oslo, Madrid, Geneva, and all other iniciatives.... but then again, he's a meglomaniac and would do anything to get his puss on the cover of Time.
Posted by karlimhof at 10:22 AM : Mar 25, 2009

KarLimpOff

and what did Oslo or Madrid do for Israel other then empty words and the same old tired lies and deeds that the Palestinians have proven. Its so easy for someone like you sipping latte to be so lax about other peoples future.

[factsearcher]

LOL
Reading the posts below makes me laugh cause the same people who condemn Israel when critized by middle east media are condemnig Israel now for offering peace to palestinians...in order words...lets put it very clear on this board...
Israel cannot be right in your eyes no matter how much they tried.
I rest my case...
There cannot be any peace with the ME mentality of including their religious bigotry and monstrous violent persecussion as part of the deal on the table.
Before any peace deal is agreed- palestinian mentality must be re-educated for peaceful purposes. Otherwise much more blood will be shed....and that's what israelis are avoiding.
For israelis- one life is as important as thousands...that;s why they would agree to free hundreds of palestinians prisoners for one of their soldiers...
Pretty amazing

[karlimhof]

a "partner for peace." nethanyahoo

kind of hard to imagine after he has rejected Oslo, Madrid, Geneva, and all other iniciatives.... but then again, he's a meglomaniac and would do anything to get his puss on the cover of Time.

[earth562]

Any excuse...and negotiations are off. Netanyahu is not a "peace" Prime Minister. He is the Israeli equivalent of Iran's Amadinajad.....
Posted by mjlewis6 at 8:08 AM : Mar 25, 2009


You tend to omit the fact that after Israel left the Gaza Strip 100% it was Hamas without provocation that lobbed 11,000 rockets into Israel. What goverment would allow something like that without retaliation. This has zero to do with religion. Read the Hamas charter and please explain how your supposed to make peace when it states in plain Arabic for the destruction of Israel.

You talk like a typical armchair general