Netanyahu tells Israeli public: No guarantee peace talks will succeed

[steph1962]

Netanyahu tells Israeli public: No guarantee peace talks will succeed

September 7, 2010

In New Year's greeting, prime minister lays down security and recognition of Israel as Jewish state as two criteria for a peace agreement with Palestinians.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the nation Tuesday in a New Year's greeting that there was no guarantee negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians would succeed, but vowed to aim for a peace agreement by the end of the year.

"This year, after many efforts, direct talks with the Palestinians have begun," the prime minister said, in a video circulated by his bureau ahead of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. "This is an important step in our attempt to advance a peace agreement between us and them."

"I say this is an attempt, because it is not certain that it will succeed. Certainly there are many obstacles, many skeptics and many reasons to doubt, but we must try to reach peace," he said.

"We are trying in good faith, but not naivety, to reach a peace agreement. Any arrangement between us and the Palestinians will be based on two criteria: security and recognition of Israel as a Jewish state," Netanyahu added.

"Security, because no peace will last without a strong anchor of actual security on the ground, not on paper and not as a hazy international commitment," he said. "The second thing is the recognition that Israel is the national state of the Jewish people.

"If we are asked to recognize a Palestinian state, it is both natural and appropriate that the Palestinians recognize the state of the Israeli people as a Jewish state."

Netanyahu's statements came a day after he expressed concern that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would abandon the peace process, after the latter declared that he would not concede to Israel on a number of core issues and would not discuss recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.

"Israel can call itself what it likes," Abbas told the East Jerusalem-based newspaper Al-Quds Al-Araby.

The Palestinian leader also said he would refuse to continue negotiations should construction resume in West Bank settlements.

Netanyahu told a delegation of visiting U.S. congressmen during a meeting at his bureau that there were still many issues left to discuss. He also said that he "believes it possible, through such direct and contiguous negotiations, held without breaks or delays, to achieve a peace agreement within a year", spokesman Nir Hefez said following the meeting.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomac...cceed-1.312743

[TaliaKirana]

Sounds like he's laying down hints that the talks are going to fail

[GeoWolf]

These talks are rather one sided. Isreal is making all the concessions while Abbas refuse to to make anything other than demands.

*The audacity that Abbas must make so much as a single concession to achieve peace is blasphemy.* (sarcasm off) They want Israel to freeze settlement construction on their land, at least part of its capitol Jerusalem, pre 1967 borders that allowed access to Jerusalem, and am I missing anything? And what will Israel and her citizens get from this deal?

It seems to me if/when the time comes for the Palestinians to hold up whatever their part of the bargain is, they refuse and abandoned the previous peace deal. All the while keeping control of Israel's concession to them. Isn't that how Gaza became Hamas controlled?

[ByFaithIFly]

These talks are rather one sided. Isreal is making all the concessions while Abbas refuse to to make anything other than demands.

The audacity that Abbas must make so much as a single concession to achieve peace is blasphemy. They want Israel to freeze settlement construction on their land, at least part of its capitol Jerusalem, pre 1967 borders that allowed access to Jerusalem, and am I missing anything?

It seems to me whenever the time comes for the Palestinians to hold up whatever their part of the bargain is, they refuse and abandoned the previous peace deal. All the while keeping control of Israel's concession to them. Isn't that how Gaza became Hamas controlled?

REmember;Under Islamic law,it is OK to make a promise and Break it later if it is for the good of Islam.What a way to live your life;One lie after another.No wonder on one trusts them.

[OnceWasLost]

File that under, Duh!

Especially in light of this.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told interviewers that he would not recognize Israel as a Jewish state, Israel Radio reported on Tuesday.

Abbas reportedly said that his position is no different from those Arafat present in previous negotiations, and that his staff is the same as Arafat's.

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=187402

Wow!, Didn't see that coming, did we?

[RobertB]

Sounds like he's laying down hints that the talks are going to fail

Call it a hint, but it is pretty clearly laid out that either Netanyahu accepts all the so-called core issue demands of the Moslems, or no talking about anything. A surrender in advance, in other words. The Moslems believe they have the Israelis (Jews) where they want them, that the world is on their side (very true), and that ultimately there will either be Jewish surrender or war. No wiggle room now, just like demands in the past.

[sherrimae]

I'm glad to see a hint that Bibi is not going to make all of these concessions. I don't think these talks are going anywhere. But Bibi really is doing a masterful job of pretending to play along.

[silvershot]

REmember;Under Islamic law,it is OK to make a promise and Break it later if it is for the good of Islam.What a way to live your life;One lie after another.No wonder on one trusts them.

I wish Israel would stand up to them. Because like bullies they will like Dominoes.

[LightOfMyLife]

The Palestinians want things their way or no way. They want Bibi to extend the building freeze not to mention Jerusalem to be their capital. I that Bibi stays firm and stands his ground.

[OnceWasLost]

The Palestinians want things their way or no way. They want Bibi to extend the building freeze not to mention Jerusalem to be their capital. I that Bibi stays firm and stands his ground.

Read the link I posted above, abbas won't even recognize Israel as a Jewish state

[LightOfMyLife]

Read the link I posted above, abbas won't even recognize Israel as a Jewish state

I know this about Abbas not recognizing Israel as a Jewish state because I even heard Bibi say this. They also want them to extend the building freeze. More importantly God recognizes them because they are the apple of his eye.

[1angel4u]

As long as the PA, Hamas, Fatah has to recognize Israel as a "Jewish State", Peace will never come.

Big suprise, huh?

This will NOT happen until the A.C. brings false peace.

The Real Peace is when King Jesus comes.

So, Christians need to think about what they're really asking for; Peace in the Middle East The rapture prior to this!!!!

And liberals need to think about what they're really asking for; Peace in the Middle East? Really? Is that what you really want? See above...

[Not Perfect, But Forgiven]

I'm glad to see a hint that Bibi is not going to make all of these concessions. I don't think these talks are going anywhere. But Bibi really is doing a masterful job of pretending to play along.

Precisley what I've been thinking. However, my thought is where does he go from here? He's not only backed into a corner, he' s part of the wall now...like in it. What could possibly be his options at this point? He can only keep playing for so long before the P.A. interprets his tactics as political double speak, and move against him in some fashion. Delays are just that, temporary strategies, a means to gain time for some purpose. But what purpose?

[RobertB]

Precisley what I've been thinking. However, my thought is where does he go from here? He's not only backed into a corner, he' s part of the wall now...like in it. What could possibly be his options at this point? He can only keep playing for so long before the P.A. interprets his tactics as political double speak, and move against him in some fashion. Delays are just that, temporary strategies, a means to gain time for some purpose. But what purpose?

I would submit that the stalling purpose deals with the Iranian situation, that is, to buy time for planning purposes, more intelligence gathering, and crossing the t's and dotting the i's, so to speak. Every other item dealing with the M.E. is well known, especially the Moslem demands over Jerusalem, so-called settlements (communities), return of Moslems who fled in 1948 at the urging of their fanatical Moslem leaders, etc. Netanuahu faces the big problem that all Israeli leaders have faced and will face in the future. That is, how to get rid of most of the Moslems within Israel to insure the viability of the Jewish state, that it remains Jewish. Israel doesn't want a fifth column within Israel and basically that is what the Moslems within Israel are. So, Netanyahu will indeed run out of stalling tactics, at some point. Thus, it seems Iran must be the reason for the Netanyahu jockeying.