Israel's prime minister has refused to commit to an independent Palestinian state during talks with Barack
Obama, the US president, at the White House.
Binyamin Netanyahu told Obama that he wanted the Palestinians to govern themselves, but steered clear of explicitly endorsing the two-state solution set out in the so-called "road map".
He said that Israel was "ready" to resume negotiations with the Palestinians, which stalled during the 22-day offensive in the Gaza Strip, but he attached conditions to any new process.
"If we resume negotiations then I think the Palestinians will have to recognise Israel as a Jewish state and also enable Israel to have the means to defend itself," he said.
"If those conditions are met, I think we can envision an arrangement where Palestinians and Israelis live side-by-side.
Obama urged Netanyahu to capitalise on what he called "an historic opportunity" to restart serious negotiations with the Palestinians, but also reiterated his commitment to Palestinian statehood.
"It is of interest not only to the Palestinians but also to the Israelis and the international community to achieve a two-state solution in which Israelis and Palestinians are living side-by-side in peace and security," he said.
Courtesy: Al Jazeera
Obama, the US president, at the White House.Binyamin Netanyahu told Obama that he wanted the Palestinians to govern themselves, but steered clear of explicitly endorsing the two-state solution set out in the so-called "road map".
He said that Israel was "ready" to resume negotiations with the Palestinians, which stalled during the 22-day offensive in the Gaza Strip, but he attached conditions to any new process.
"If we resume negotiations then I think the Palestinians will have to recognise Israel as a Jewish state and also enable Israel to have the means to defend itself," he said.
"If those conditions are met, I think we can envision an arrangement where Palestinians and Israelis live side-by-side.
Obama urged Netanyahu to capitalise on what he called "an historic opportunity" to restart serious negotiations with the Palestinians, but also reiterated his commitment to Palestinian statehood.
"It is of interest not only to the Palestinians but also to the Israelis and the international community to achieve a two-state solution in which Israelis and Palestinians are living side-by-side in peace and security," he said.
Courtesy: Al Jazeera
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