Minister Sa'ar: Israel won't return to 1967 lines

Interior minister discusses renewed peace talks with Palestinians, rules out settlement evacuation

Moran Azulay|Published: 08.30.13 , 11:05

Interior Minister Gideon Sa'ar said Thursday that the government will not accept a Palestinian demand to return to the 1967 lines as part of renewed peace talks.

Speaking at a new year's ceremony attended by ministers, Knesset members and hundreds of Likud activists, the minister stressed that "1967 lines are not defensible borders."

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Sa'ar further stated, "We shall insist on keeping a united and undivided Jerusalem as Israel's capital." He added that Israel cannot refuse to enter into negotiations because of national responsibility and a need to safeguard all of Israel's interests.

"What is important is to conduct the negotiations in a different way than before. For more than four years the Palestinians avoided renewing talks only because we refused to pick up where Olmert left off. Such proposals can't serve as a basis for negotiations. We come to the talks with different positions."

Sa'ar also addressed the issue of potential settlement evacuation and said, "We do not believe in uprooting Jewish communities and do not believe that this will lead to peace."

Discussing reports that Uganda has agreed to receive Sudanese and Eritrean migrants, he said "Israel is under no obligation to keep illegal infiltrators. We have a responsibility to act lawfully and humanely."