Conflict can't be solved, says Benjamin Netanyahu

[bemildred]

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is "insoluble", casting a new note of pessimism over attempts to restart peace talks.

In an interview with Haaretz newspaper, Mr Netanyahu was asked what his government's peace initiative was and what was the plan to end the conflict with the Palestinians.

"This is an insoluble conflict because it is not about territory," he replied.

"It is not that you can give up a kilometre more and solve it. The root of the conflict is an entirely different place.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/conflict-cant-be-solved-says-benjamin-netanyahu/story-e6frg6so-1226075904777

[no_hypocrisy]

1. So I guess that means permanent war on our dime, huh?

[daa]

8. Uh sorry but American hegemony is gone, wasted squandered

they will be on their own.

[Enrique]

2. "casting a note of pessimism"

ya think?

[The Magistrate]

3. Quick Translation, Sir: 'I Don't Want Conflict Solved Says Netanyahi'

[shira]

13. Do you believe the Palestinians should recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland?

Seems such a step would prove the Palestinian desire for genuine peace within the 2 state framework.

[bemildred]

16. One hardly knows where to begin, Sir.

Not only is the conflict not about territory, but that makes it HARDER to resolve, see, because it's not about territory.

I was immediately reminded of when I first was told that the Bushites' Iraq war was not about oil.

[shira]

17. Well, let's see if we can agree it's not about 1949-67 territory but about 1947-48...

It's about Israel's very existence.

The conflict existed WELL before 1967.

[bemildred]

18. What else would it be about? What's your point? nt

[shira]

19. Israel's existence. 1948. Not 1967. n/t

[bemildred]

20. You seem confused. I'm not one to deny that the dispute is about Israel's existence.

That is why one would want a settlement, to establish that, Israel's existence, within internationally recognized borders, etc.

[hlthe2b]

4. Oh, I don't know... maybe we could round up the Likudists and

opposing extremists from the Palestinian side and give them a five year "vacation" on some totally isolated island.... Let's then see what the good people of both sides might come up with, without the agitators....

[MidwestTransplant]

6. That would probably work.

[Jefferson23]

5. My goodness the blood thirst is incredible from this crazy man. n/t

[damntexdem]

7. If true, then Isreal needs to be destroyed.

But it may not be true -- in which case, Netanyahoo needs to be forced out.

[Rageneau]

9. I think you just proved Bibi's point.

Apparently, you have the same bottom-line point of view of many Palestinians: Israel must be destroyed.

When one side has as its unmodifiable goal the complete destruction of the other side, how can that situation be described as anything BUT insoluble?

What Netanyahu is saying here is that it is the instransigence of the Palestinians -- not the Israelis -- that makes the situation unsolvable.

[LeftishBrit]

15. 'Needs to be destroyed'? How many other countries in conflict do you want to destroy?

In other words, you want total war.

Wow. Isn't there enough of that in the world already?

Netanyahu does need to be forced out: DEMOCRATICALLY, not by total war.

[King_David]

23. Israel will never be destroyed

It is just a wet dream of some.

Stop fantasizing.

You keep saying that.

[tootrueleft]

10. This is the guy who claims to want to find a settlement? Settlement here, settlement there....

[wuushew]

11. interesting

doesn't this frank admission poision the ongoing lobbying effort that Israel is trying to conduct ahead of September?

[azurnoir]

12. maybe he should add "while I'm Prime Minister" to that statement

meanwhile Netayahu claims this-"Until Abu Mazen (Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas) recognises Israel as a Jewish state, there will be no way to reach an agreement."

sounds like a 'pre-condition' to me

[tootrueleft]

14. Along with the other conditions as mentioned in bibs speech to congress.

But, don't forget, the palestinians cannot act unilaterally. Thats his job.

[shaayecanaan]

21. He's adding more preconditions by the minute...

"In a statement late Wednesday, Netanyahu reiterated his key demands for a resumption of talks. He said the Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish state, accept a demilitarized Palestinian state with an Israeli security presence along its border with Jordan and drop their demand for a return of Palestinian refugees to Israel. He also said all of Jerusalem must remain in Israeli hands."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-s-envoys-return-to-mideast-in-bid-to-renew-israeli-palestinian-talks-1.367940

That's five pre-conditions, by my reckoning. A year ago he had only one.

[bemildred]

22. Livni: Netanyahu calling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict insoluble buries chances for peace

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement this week that there is no solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has buried the prospect of a peace deal and normal life in Israel, opposition leader Tzipi Livni said yesterday.

"Your truth has come to light," Livni told the Knesset. Referring to the interview Netanyahu gave to Israeli author Etgar Keret, which was published in Haaretz yesterday, the Kadima chairwoman said: "In a relaxed conversation with an excellent author, for a moment you dropped the pose you adopt on every stage and you spoke your true position - the conflict cannot be resolved."

Livni said Netanyahu had no right to make such a determination.

"Who are you to tell the citizens of Israel that they and their children, and later their children's children, will continue to live by their swords forever? Who are you to bury the chances of a deal and of normal life here, after just a few hours in the room meant for negotiations you didn't conduct?"

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/livni-netanyahu-calling-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict-insoluble-buries-chances-for-peace-1.367947