Netanyahu Speech Setback for Peace

Recent remarks by Israeli prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu – in which he set out preconditions for a future Palestinian state – have reduced the possibility of achieving peace in the region, said official newspaper Al-Thawra.



In a June 15 editorial, the daily’s editor-in-chief Asaad Aboud criticised the terms outlined by Netanyahu, which the Israeli official said must be met if an agreement is to be reached with the Palestinians.



In his policy speech given at Bar Ilan University near Tel Aviv on June 14, Netanyahu appeared to respond to pressure from Washington by endorsing the creation of a Palestinian nation.



However, the prime minister said he would support this only if the state were demilitarised, while also dismissing the possibility of sharing Jerusalem or accepting Palestinian refugees within Israel.



“If we receive this guarantee regarding demilitarisation and Israel's security needs, and if the Palestinians recognise Israel as the state of the Jewish people, then we will be ready in a future peace agreement to reach a solution where a demilitarised Palestinian state exists alongside the Jewish state,” said Netanyahu, in his address.



Aboud said that the Israeli position was not in keeping with the United States vision recently put forward for peace in the Middle East.



US president Barack Obama has made it clear he believes a two-state solution is the only option.



The commentator said that the US should initiate peace talks and impose its vision to guarantee stability and security in the region.



Another opinion piece published the same day in the pro-government newspaper Al-Watan said that Arab nations rejected the plan offered by Netanyahu.



The article’s author Muhamad Kafina said that Arab states would continue to support resistance movements against Israel to counter the “tremendous challenges” posed by the country.