(Jerusalem Post) Tovah Lazaroff, Gil Hoffman and Lahav Harkov - Israel Foreign Ministry Director-General Rafi Barak held a conference call on Wednesday with Israeli diplomats to receive an update on their efforts to persuade their host countries to oppose Palestinian unilateral moves. A number of European countries said they would stand with Israel at the UN in September to oppose a unilaterally declared Palestinian state, including Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, America and Canada. At the Knesset on Wednesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated the points that Israel believes are necessary for a peace deal: "The settlement blocs will remain part of Israel in a final-status agreement." "Jerusalem will remain Israel's sovereign, united capital." The Palestinians would have to recognize that Israel is the national homeland of the Jewish people, and a peace deal would need to meet Israel's security requirements, including maintaining an Israeli military presence in the Jordan Valley. The final-status agreement must end all claims against Israel by the Palestinians.
2011-06-16 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive