Netanyahu: 'We want peace with Arab world'

[IndianaGreen]

Last update - 04:09 05/05/2009

Netanyahu: 'We want peace with Arab world'

By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent

In an unexpectedly short speech before AIPAC's policy conference delegates late Monday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated his desire to pursue Mideast peace talks, and voiced his concern over Iran's progressing nuclear program.

The 5:30-minute address was transmitted via satellite from Jerusalem to a crowd made up of the ambassadors of 66 countries and over half of the U.S. members of congress.

After thanking AIPAC activists for their work and the Congress members for their support, PM Netanyahu commented on where he saw Mideast peace talks: "Next week I'll be visiting Egypt with President Mubarak and I plan to discuss both matters with him - cooperation between the Arab world and cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians."

"We seek normalization of economic ties, diplomatic ties we want peace with the Arab world, but we also want peace with the Palestinians. That peace eluded us for more than 30 years. Six successive prime-ministers of Israel and two American presidents have not succeeded in achieving this peace," Netanyahu added.

"I believe it's possible to achieve, but I think it requires a fresh approach," Netanyahu said, adding that the new approach he suggests is "pursuing a triple track towards peace between Israel and Palestinians, a political track, a security track and economic track. The (political) track means that we resume peace negotiations without any delay, the sooner the better, without any preconditions."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1083175.html

[Ken Burch]

1. Are you sure that wasn't a typo?

I'm guessing that what Bibi actually said was "we want pieces OF the Arab world".
(that sounds more like him, anyways).

[IndianaGreen]

2. Bibi is pre-positioning himself for when he meets Obama

This could be another kabuki dance, like so many before. OTOH, who knows what will happen once Bibi and Obama meet.

[PFunk]

3. It also shows the boycotts and the Gaza bad press are hitting home.

Bibi (and others) is finally starting to see the first signs of Israel becoming the new (pre-apartheid) South Africa (and what it did to it's government and people).

[ProgressiveMuslim]

4. Interesting to watch how AIPAC's focus exactly mirrors the gov't of Israel: IRAN, IRAN, IRAN.

you can follow the conference with Phil Weiss, who is blogging about the conference:

http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/

[Ken Burch]

5. Well, it naturally would. Just like the Daily Worker's focus exactly mirrored Stalin's.

A party-liner is a party-liner.

[azurnoir]

6. And do not forget

the PA refuses to recognize Israel as a Jewish State, those two items Iran and recognition of Jewish State are exactly what are mentioned here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x273494

[IndianaGreen]

8. A Jewish state is a theocracy; anathema to all progressives.

And it is a new demand and quite different demand from the well worn "Israel has the right to exist."

We can agree that Israel already exists, and does have a right to continue to exist, but we will add that Palestine has the same right to exist as Israel.

I will support a state for Jews, but not a Jewish state (which is a theocracy), anymore that I support the myriad of Islamic states that have sprung like fungus in the last few years, or a Christian America (which never was to begin with).

[TomClash]

9. Shhhhh . . .

Stop making sense.

[madeline_con]

7. "I think it requires a fresh approach"

Has Israel developed a new way to kill innocents?