(Prime Minister's Office) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Israeli Cabinet on Sunday: "On Tuesday, I will leave for Sharm a-Sheikh, for an additional meeting with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, in the framework of the direct talks. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will host, as well as attend, the meeting, which will also be attended by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Mitchell. I believe that if the Palestinian leadership adheres to continuous negotiations, despite the obstacles that are coming up on every side, and if it is serious and determined in its intention to advance towards peace, just as we are serious, then it will be possible to - within a year - reach a framework that will be the basis for a peace settlement." "A peace agreement is based - first of all - on the recognition of Israel as the national state of the Jewish People....We say that the solution is two states for two peoples, meaning two national states, a Jewish national state and a Palestinian national state. To my regret, I have yet to hear from the Palestinians the phrase 'two states for two peoples.' I hear them saying 'two states,' but I do not hear them recognizing two states for two peoples."
2010-09-13 12:02:03Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive