[Washington Post] Lally Weymouth - In his first interview with foreign media since he was asked to form Israel's next government, Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu said: "I propose a way which I believe can achieve progress: to continue political talks and at the same time advance the economic development that has begun and also strengthen the Palestinian security forces. I personally intend to take charge of a government committee that will regularly address the needs of the Palestinian economy in the West Bank." Q: But economic progress is not a substitute for political progress. Netanyahu: "It's not a substitute but in Northern Ireland it was an unbelievable facilitator for the Good Friday agreement and the others that followed." Q: Do you believe in a two-state solution as George Bush outlined in 2002? Netanyahu: "Substantively, I think there is broad agreement inside Israel and outside that the Palestinians should have the ability to govern their lives but not to threaten ours."
2009-03-02 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive