Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that he is ready to talk with the Palestinian Authority and Syria with out preconditions. Netanyahu made his remarks upon his return to Israel after a trip to the United States, during which he met with U.S. President Barack Obama.
He and Obama agreed that “we must immediately launch peace talks,” Netanyahu told journalists. However, he added, “I made it clear that any peace settlement must provide a solution for Israel's security needs.”
According to Netanyahu, he and Obama also agreed on the need to hold talks with a wide range of Arab countries, and not only the PA. Israel and America will work together to kick off more inclusive talks, he said.
While Netanyahu expressed willingness to talk to Syria, he has also insisted that Israel will maintain full sovereignty in the strategic Golan region. Syrian President Bashar Assad says he will not make peace unless his country is given control over the Golan.
Netanyahu continued to avoid support for a “two state solution,” a position supported by Obama.
Aide: Focus on PA State 'Childish'
Meanwhile, one of Netanyahu's aides caused a stir by referring to the “two-state solution” as “childish” and “stupid.”
The aide later clarified his words, explaining that he had not meant to refer to the idea of a PA state itself as “stupid.” Rather, he said, he meant that the focus on the creation of a PA state as the solution to Israel's problems was stupid.
The focus on a PA state is childish because the conflict between Israel and the PA is complex and the solution is not so simple, the aide said.