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Palestinian Authority Rejects Netanyahu’s Conditions to Resume Peace Talks
Kifah Ziboun and Nazir Majli Asharq Al Awsat 27 January 2017
http://english.aawsat.com/2017/01/article55366392/palestinian-authority-rejects-netanyahus-conditions-resume-peace-talks
Ramallah, Tel Aviv – The Palestinian Authority strongly rejected on Thursday
a set of conditions presented by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
for the resumption of peace talks, including the recognition of Israel as a
Jewish State and the continuous security control over areas located between
the Jordan River and the Mediterranean.
The Palestinian Authority described the conditions as “insignificant and
unworthy of a response”.
In this regard, Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad Malki said:
“These are onerous conditions; [Netanyahu] will not find a single
Palestinian, who will be ready to deal with them.”
Addressing a political and security committee at the Knesset, Netanyahu said
that recognizing Israel as a Jewish state and its right to seal security
control over the West Bank were two conditions that he would never abandon.
He added that settlements were not the core problem with the Palestinians.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Palestinian interior ministry said:
“The unreasonable conditions set by Netanyahu have once again showed that he
was neither looking for the resumption of talks nor seeking to establish
peace with the Palestinians.”
“On the contrary, his remarks reflect his aim to hamper any international
effort to resume peace talks,” the statement added.
The Palestinian foreign ministry called on the international community to
assume its legal and humanitarian responsibilities towards the Palestinian
Cause.
In the past, Netanyahu said that he would be in favor of a demilitarized
Palestinian state if the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian foreign affairs minister said that he would
present a dossier to the International Criminal Court on the Israeli illegal
settlements.
In remarks to the official radio channel, Malki said that the Palestinian
Authority would adopt a series of measures aimed at halting illegal Israeli
settlements in territories occupied by Israel since 1967.