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Netanyahu - Not because of critique
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Israeli teams to negotiate Iran, Palestinian issues with US

Israeli delegation to London determines two separate teams will handle state's interests regarding burning issues of security. Meanwhile Netanyahu delays visit to Europe, denies decision linked to international criticism following US trip

Israel is poised to establish two negotiating teams to work with the US on issues regarding the Palestinians and Iran, according to an Israeli delegation to London headed by Minister Dan Meridor.

 

Members of the delegation held a series of meetings Tuesday during which they decided on the functions of the two teams.

 

The first, to be headed by National Security Advisor Uzi Arad, is to deal with matters concerning the Iranian threat in light of US President Barack Obama's decision to conduct a dialogue with the Islamic Republic.

 

A senior minister told Ynet that "Israel is not in a position to tell the Americans whether or not to hold a dialogue with Iran. However it is clear that it must have a time limit or benchmarks at which the negotiations can be reassessed".

 

The second team, to be headed by Yitzhak Molcho, will concern itself mostly with Israel's financial obligations towards the Palestinian people in the event an agreement is achieved.

 

Netanyahu postpones Europe visit

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday that he will postpone his visits to Paris and Rome, originally planned for next week. His office rejected claims that the decision comes as a response to the harsh criticism the prime minister encountered regarding Israel's policies during his recent trip to Washington.

 

Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on June 3rd and French President Nicolas Sarkozy the following day. Officials in Jerusalem promised however that the brief European tour would only be delayed by several weeks.

 

A senior aide to the prime minister said that the postponement was necessary due to several pressing unresolved matters currently on Netanyahu's desk, namely passing the 2009-2010 state budget in the Knesset and appointing a new special envoy to oversee efforts to secure the release of captive soldier Gilad Shalit.

 

Furthermore, it was also hinted that the postponed trip would also include a stop in London for a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

 

France took an exceptionally pointed stance against Netanyahu last week, charging that his declarations avowing Jerusalem would never be divided would impede the peace process.

 

"The declaration made by the Israeli prime minister yesterday in Jerusalem prejudices the final status agreement," Foreign Ministry spokesman Frederic Desagneaux told reporters in Paris.

 

"In France's eyes, Jerusalem should, within the framework of a negotiated peace deal, become the capital of two states," Desagneaux said, adding that Sarkozy had said as much in a speech to Israeli lawmakers last year.

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.26.09, 21:29
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