Netanyahu Calls for Two States

By COLlive reporter

On Sunday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Palestinian leaders to restart Middle East peace negotiations without preconditions.

The address at Bar Ilan came in the wake of the Obama administration’s insistence that Israel impose a complete freeze on West Bank settlement construction and recognize the two-state solution.

“I call on you, our Palestinian neighbors, and to the leadership of the Palestinian Authority: Let us begin peace negotiations immediately, without preconditions,” he said. “Israel is committed to international agreements and expects all the other parties to fulfill their obligations as well.”

In an apparent reversal of Israeli policy, Netanyahu also declared that he was prepared to see the creation of a Palestinian state, so long as the international community can guarantee that it not have any military capabilities. He also said that Jerusalem must remain the unified capital of Israel.

During the speech, Netanyahu vowed that Israel would not build any new settlements and would refrain from expanding existing Israeli communities in the West Bank. Still, he said the government must be allowed to accommodate natural growth in these settlements.

Netanyahu has until now been adamant that a settlement freeze is unfeasible and that he would concentrate on strengthening the Palestinian economy, rather than agreeing to their statehood.

The prime minister said he was prepared to meet with the leaders of neighboring Arab countries at any time, to promote regional peace and to gain their contribution to the Palestinian economy.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the speech “combined the Jewish people’s right to a Jewish state in Israel with Israel’s aspirations for peace.”

The White House said Sunday, Netanyahu’s speech endorsing the creation of a Palestinian state was “an important step forward.”

Netanyahu was criticized from both sides of the political spectrum on Sunday night.

The criticism was not only exclusive to parties outside the government, with the Habayit Hayehudi party saying that it would “reconsider its future” in the coalition following “the dangerous ramifications of Netanyahu’s speech.”

Even from within the Likud, party leader was chastised by MK Danny Danon.

“Unfortunately, the prime minister succumbed to [US President Barack] Obama’s pressure. Israeli citizens are not the new American president’s guinea pigs. Enough Israeli citizens have been killed because of our unilateral concessions,” Danon said in a statement.

National Union MK Arye Eldad was especially harsh in his criticism.

“Today Netanyahu has lost the leadership of the national camp, when he crossed not only the red lines of his elections promises, but also converted,” Eldad said.