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June 15, 2009

Netanyahu Backs Demilitarized Palestinian State
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Palestinian officials have condemned a major policy speech by Israeli
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, saying it closed the door to
permanent status negotiations. During the speech on Sunday, Netanyahu
said for the first time he could accept a two-state solution, but only
if the new Palestinian state had no army, no control of its airspace and
borders, and would recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

Binyamin Netanyahu: “If we receive a guarantee for demilitarization and
the security arrangements required by Israel, and if the Palestinians
recognize Israel as the nation of the Jewish people, we will be prepared
for a true peace agreement (and) to reach a solution of a demilitarized
Palestinian state alongside the Jewish state.”

During the speech Netanyahu also said Jerusalem must remain the united
capital of Israel and that israel would not concede to US demands for a
complete halt to all settlement expansion in the West Bank.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat: “He is not with a two-state
solution. He is not going to stop settlements, including natural growth.
So we have attempts to move a peace process, which was moving like a
turtle in the region. Now Netanyahu tonight flipped it on its back. So
it’s really up to President Obama tonight. He has the choice. He can
treat Israel like a country above the laws of man, apply double
standards, and this will be a costly road. Or, he can have the Israeli
government oblige with its commitments emanating from the road map: the
two-state solution with ’67 borders and stopping settlement activities,
including natural growth. Tonight, what Netanyahu told us, there will
not be permanent status negotiations."