Netanyahu with US special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell
Photo: GPO
Barak with Mitchell
Photo courtesy of the Defense Ministry
Barak to Bibi: Push for comprehensive peace
Prime Minister Netanyahu convenes special forum on Israeli-Palestinian peace process ahead of Washington visit, says will negotiate 'with anyone striving to advance it.' Defense minister suggests Israel offers new plan, based on Arab initiative, two-state solution
A month ahead of his scheduled visit to Washington, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on
Sunday convened a special forum to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Barak called on Netanyahu to offer the Palestinians an Israeli peace initiative based on the Arab Peace Initiative and
pushing for a process eventuating in a Palestinian state.
Attending the meeting were Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Uzi Arad – head of the National Security Council and the prime minister's national security advisor, and Amos Gilad, head of the Defense Ministry's Security-Diplomatic Bureau.
US Stance
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According to the defense minister's proposal, Israel's demands on all matters pertaining to security and the Palestinian Authority's recognition of it as the Jewish homeland would have to be met.
Israel, on its part, would agree to a comprehensive regional compromise, based on the two-state solution. It would also agree to resolve the issue of Palestinian refugees.
Barak stressed that his formula would enable Israel to demand the PA – and the future demilitarized Palestinian state – fight terror, adding that going against the US administration avid support of the two-state solution was futile.
"Israel's relations with the US run deep. We can and should find our way to reaching agreeable understandings on the issues at hand," he said.
The prime minister began the meeting by saying that he was "willing to hold a dialogue with anyone striving to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
"Contrary to wide reports, I did not precondition the negotiations on the Palestinians recognizing Israel as the Jewish homeland," said Netanyahu, "But nevertheless, any progress we make depends on them willing to do so."
The prime minister is expected to hold a series of similar meetings in the next three weeks.
