Afternoon:
10°c
Palestinians reject idea of state without army
Josef Federman, Associated Press15 Jun 2009
Palestinians today rejected a suggestion by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would endorse a Palestinian state - but only if it was not allowed its own army.
A week after President Barack Obama's address to the Muslim world, Mr Netanyahu said the Palestinian state would also have to recognise Israel as the Jewish state, essentially saying Palestinian refugees must give up the goal of returning to Israel.
With those conditions, he could accept "a demilitarised Palestinian state alongside the Jewish state".
The West Bank-based Palestinian government dismissed the proposal.
"Netanyahu's speech closed the door to permanent status negotiations," senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said.
"We ask the world not to be fooled by his use of the term Palestinian state because he qualified it. He declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel, said refugees would not be negotiated and that settlements would remain."
Mr Netanyahu refused to heed Mr Obama's call for an immediate freeze of construction on lands Palestinians claim for their future state.
Mr Netanyahu said: "I call on you, our Palestinian neighbours, and to the leadership of the Palestinian Authority: Let us begin peace negotiations immediately, without preconditions."
Calling on the wider Arab world to work with him, he said: "Let's make peace. I am willing to meet with you any time any place - in Damascus, Riyadh, Beirut and in Jerusalem."
He also said that Israel must recognise that millions of Palestinians live in the West Bank, and continued control was undesirable.
"In my vision, there are two free peoples living side by side each with each other, each with its own flag and national anthem," he said.
The Palestinians demand all of the West Bank as part of a future state, with east Jerusalem as their capital. Israel captured both areas in the 1967 Six Day war.
Reader views (4)
Why do these guys need an army? Who do they want to invade? Why don't they just have armed police, like the Syrians? An army is a make work scheme that consumes large amounts of money, which they don't have. Who will finance any army that they think that they need? Certainly it can't come from taxes, so they would be putting themselves in the pay of another regime. No too smart.
- Coylum, vancouver, Canada, 16/06/2009 06:56
Report abuse
I think Israel have made a fair offer to the Palestinians, and I bet if you asked the the ordinary palestinian in the street, he would jump at the chance of a peaceful future, and they would be assured of work in a more peaceful environment, as the foreign investment would pour into the whole region, as for their own army, that would be a very bad idea, can you imagine Hamas with tanks and heavy artillery, it would not work!.Palestinians should grab this offer with both hands and embrace a peaceful future.
- David Crocket, Bradford, UK, 15/06/2009 12:40
Report abuse
When will the world turn the heat up on Israel? It could easily just recognise a Palestinian state on 1967 borders by passing a UN Resolution and then leave the refugees debate for later. If Israel fails to accept this then we should launch trade sanctions and the US should stop giving Israel handouts. Either that or the Palestinians should demand the vote and force Israel to make it clear it is not a democracy and just an extremist religious apartheid state.
For decades, Israel has by its actions made clear it does not want peace and constantly delayed peace moves with new conditions whilst all the time allowing religious extremists to occupy more Palestinian land.
- Alan Rex, London, England, 15/06/2009 11:11
Report abuse
As usual Israel has demanded everyting and gives nothing.
- Carla, London, 15/06/2009 10:24
Report abuse
