[Wall Street Journal] Jay Solomon - Members of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's government voiced skepticism toward President Obama's call for an independent Palestinian state, particularly when the PA's security forces remain weak and its political leadership divided. Netanyahu, his aides said, also wants to limit the powers to be granted to any Palestinian government, arguing that certain military capabilities could pose a threat to Israel. Netanyahu "was elected to change the direction of the peace process," Ron Dermer, a senior adviser to the prime minister, told the AIPAC conference Sunday. Dermer suggested Israel's new government will seek a gradual approach on the question of Palestinian statehood, placing a higher priority on institution-building. Despite calls from Washington to focus on the Palestinian issue, Netanyahu's government is making the campaign to end Iran's nuclear program its No. 1 foreign-policy initiative. "For the first time in my lifetime, Arabs and Jews see a common danger," Netanyahu told the AIPAC conference Monday.
2009-05-05 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive