Netanyahu gives conditional backing to Palestinian state

Under pressure from the Obama administration,Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has for the first time endorsed a two-state solution in the Middle East.

Under pressure from the Obama administration,Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has for the first time endorsed a two-state solution in the Middle East,drawing praise from the West but flak from Palestinians who rejected the offer citing the tough conditions attached.

In a policy speech that came a week after US President Barack Obama8217;s address to the Muslim world,Netanyahu said the 8220;Palestinian state8221; will have to be demilitarised and recognise Israel as a state of the Jewish people. 8220;Israel cannot agree to a Palestinian state unless it gets guarantees it is demilitarised,8221; he said. 8220;I call on you,our Palestinian neighbours,and to the leadership of the Palestinian Authority,Let us begin peace negotiations immediately,without preconditions,8221; the Israeli premier said. The hardliner Israeli premier has resisted agreeing to a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict all through his political career and his veiled acceptance was couched under several other conditions,including refusal to allow Palestinian refugees to settle in Israel and keeping united Jerusalem the capital of the Jewish state. With all these conditions,Israel 8220;will be ready in a future peace agreement to reach a solution where a demilitarised Palestinian state exists alongside the Jewish state,8221; Netanyahu said.

The address at Bar Ilan university,considered the bastion of Israeli right,came in the wake of Obama8217;s insistence that Israel impose a complete freeze on West Bank settlement construction and recognise the two-state solution. The White House said Obama welcomed the speech as an 8220;important step forward8221; while the European Union described it as 8220;a step in the right direction8221;.

However,the Palestinians were sceptic and angry. 8220;Netanyahu8217;s remarks have sabotaged all initiatives,paralysed all efforts being made and challenges the Palestinian,Arab and American positions,8221; said Nabil Abu Rdeineh,a close aide to Palestinian Authority PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

Reacting angrily to Netanyahu8217;s assertions that Palestinian refugees will not be allowed to settle in Israel and undivided Jerusalem will stay its capital,Rdeineh said that 8220;this will not lead to complete and just peace8221;. 8220;Our main demand is the end of the occupation and finding a fair solution for Palestinian refugees and halting settlements. Other details should be resolved in negotiations,8221; he said.

In Gaza,Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri called the speech 8220;racist8221; and asked Arab nations to 8220;form stronger opposition8221;. Political analysts said the move was aimed at pleasing the US. The mass-circulated Yediot Aharonot said 8220;Netanyahu8217;s speech was meant for one pair of ears8230; the ears of US President Barack Obama.8221;

However,hardline Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the speech outlined 8220;the balance between our aspirations for peace and the aspiration for security.8221; Eli Yishai,head of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish Shas party,also said Netanyahu 8220;stressed his commitment to plausible peace and security.8221; Netanyahu vowed that Israel would not build any new settlements and would refrain from expanding existing Israeli settlements in the West Bank but his government must be allowed to accommodate 8220;natural growth8221; in population in these settlements.

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The hawkish leader has so far been adamant that a settlement freeze is unfeasible and that he would concentrate on strengthening the Palestinian economy,rather than agreeing to their statehood. Netanyahu reiterated that Israel has no desire to control the Palestinian people and declared that both nations should be able to live side by side in peace. 8220;We want both Israeli and Palestinian children to live without war,8221; he said adding,8221;We must ask ourselves why has peace not yet arrived after 60 years?8221;

However,he demanded that Palestinians must accept Israel as a Jewish state and cited the root of the regional conflict to 8220;even moderate8221; Palestinian elements8217; refusal to do so. 8220;When Palestinians are ready to recognise Israel as a Jewish state,we will be ready for a true final settlement,8221; Netanyahu said.