This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8099757.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Israel sets terms for Palestinian state | Israel sets terms for Palestinian state |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced he will back a Palestinian state - but only if it is completely demilitarised. | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced he will back a Palestinian state - but only if it is completely demilitarised. |
| He said a Palestinian state must have no army, no control of its air space and no way of smuggling in weapons. | He said a Palestinian state must have no army, no control of its air space and no way of smuggling in weapons. |
| In a landmark speech, weeks after the US president urged him to agree a two-state plan, he said the Palestinians must accept Israel as a Jewish state. | In a landmark speech, weeks after the US president urged him to agree a two-state plan, he said the Palestinians must accept Israel as a Jewish state. |
| Palestinian leaders reacted angrily, accusing him of sabotaging peace plans. | Palestinian leaders reacted angrily, accusing him of sabotaging peace plans. |
| Settlers 'not enemies' | Settlers 'not enemies' |
| The White House said President Barack Obama welcomed Mr Netanyahu's "endorsement" of a two-state solution as an "important step forward". | The White House said President Barack Obama welcomed Mr Netanyahu's "endorsement" of a two-state solution as an "important step forward". |
| The BBC's Paul Wood says Mr Netanyahu broke ground by accepting the principle of a demilitarised Palestinian state, albeit with conditions. | The BBC's Paul Wood says Mr Netanyahu broke ground by accepting the principle of a demilitarised Palestinian state, albeit with conditions. |
| Any demand to resettle refugees within Israel undermines Israel as a state for the Jewish people Benjamin Netanyahu Speech: Key excerpts | Any demand to resettle refugees within Israel undermines Israel as a state for the Jewish people Benjamin Netanyahu Speech: Key excerpts |
| But our correspondent says the question is whether the White House regards this as sufficient to make up for the lack of movement on the issue of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. | But our correspondent says the question is whether the White House regards this as sufficient to make up for the lack of movement on the issue of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. |
| In his keynote Mid-East speech in Cairo on 4 June Mr Obama stressed that he wanted all settlement activity to stop. | |
| But in his speech at Bar-Ilan university Mr Netanyahu said settlers were not "enemies of peace" and did not move from his position of backing "natural growth" in existing settlements. | But in his speech at Bar-Ilan university Mr Netanyahu said settlers were not "enemies of peace" and did not move from his position of backing "natural growth" in existing settlements. |
| Thorny issues | Thorny issues |
| The Israeli leader offered to talk to the Palestinians immediately and with "no preconditions". | The Israeli leader offered to talk to the Palestinians immediately and with "no preconditions". |
| Tim Franks, BBC News, Jerusalem Benjamin Netanyahu has shifted. He has used the word "state", when it comes to Palestinian self-rule. | Tim Franks, BBC News, Jerusalem Benjamin Netanyahu has shifted. He has used the word "state", when it comes to Palestinian self-rule. |
| In another deeper sense, though, there has been no shift. Mr Netanyahu's closest aides have been saying for months that they have two over-arching pre-conditions: a public Palestinian acceptance of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, and a complete demilitarisation of any future Palestinian entity. | In another deeper sense, though, there has been no shift. Mr Netanyahu's closest aides have been saying for months that they have two over-arching pre-conditions: a public Palestinian acceptance of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, and a complete demilitarisation of any future Palestinian entity. |
| And Mr Netanyahu tersely dismissed the US call for an end to settlement expansion: these people have to live, he said. He described them as "pioneers" and "principled". | And Mr Netanyahu tersely dismissed the US call for an end to settlement expansion: these people have to live, he said. He described them as "pioneers" and "principled". |
| This is a speech which will shore up the prime minister's position within his right-wing coalition. It is, whatever you think of the rights and wrongs of it, a powerful forehand deep into the back court of the Americans. It will be fascinating to see when and how the Americans return the ball. | This is a speech which will shore up the prime minister's position within his right-wing coalition. It is, whatever you think of the rights and wrongs of it, a powerful forehand deep into the back court of the Americans. It will be fascinating to see when and how the Americans return the ball. |
| "We want to live with you in peace as good neighbours," he said. | "We want to live with you in peace as good neighbours," he said. |
| Mr Netanyahu also said he was willing to go to Damascus, Riyadh and Beirut in pursuit of a Middle East peace deal. | Mr Netanyahu also said he was willing to go to Damascus, Riyadh and Beirut in pursuit of a Middle East peace deal. |
| He went on to tackle the major stumbling blocks in negotiations with Palestinians over the years. | He went on to tackle the major stumbling blocks in negotiations with Palestinians over the years. |
| Not least was the issue of Palestinian refugees who fled or were forced from their homes in what is now Israel in 1948 and 1949. | Not least was the issue of Palestinian refugees who fled or were forced from their homes in what is now Israel in 1948 and 1949. |
| The Palestinians say they and their millions of descendants have the right to return to Israel - which would mean an end to its Jewish majority - but Israel has consistently rebuffed that demand. | The Palestinians say they and their millions of descendants have the right to return to Israel - which would mean an end to its Jewish majority - but Israel has consistently rebuffed that demand. |
| Mr Netanyahu stuck to a similar line, saying: "The Palestinian refugee problem must be resolved outside the borders of the state of Israel. | Mr Netanyahu stuck to a similar line, saying: "The Palestinian refugee problem must be resolved outside the borders of the state of Israel. |
| "Any demand to resettle refugees within Israel undermines Israel as a state for the Jewish people." | "Any demand to resettle refugees within Israel undermines Israel as a state for the Jewish people." |
| Another key issue the two sides have failed to agree on is the status of Jerusalem. | Another key issue the two sides have failed to agree on is the status of Jerusalem. |
| Mr Netanyahu insisted the city must be the "united capital of Israel", although Palestinians want it divided to allow them to locate the capital of a future state there. | Mr Netanyahu insisted the city must be the "united capital of Israel", although Palestinians want it divided to allow them to locate the capital of a future state there. |
| 'Racist and extremist' | |
| Agreeing the principle of a Palestinian state, he said Israel would "be prepared for a true peace agreement [and] to reach a solution of a demilitarised Palestinian state alongside the Jewish state". | Agreeing the principle of a Palestinian state, he said Israel would "be prepared for a true peace agreement [and] to reach a solution of a demilitarised Palestinian state alongside the Jewish state". |
| But only if "we receive this guarantee for demilitarisation and the security arrangements required by Israel, and if the Palestinians recognise Israel as the nation of the Jewish people". | But only if "we receive this guarantee for demilitarisation and the security arrangements required by Israel, and if the Palestinians recognise Israel as the nation of the Jewish people". |
| Correspondents say even with the provisos Mr Netanyahu has added, his comments on a Palestinian state are sure to anger many in his own coalition. | |
| Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said the Israeli leader's speech "torpedoes all peace initiatives in the region". | Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said the Israeli leader's speech "torpedoes all peace initiatives in the region". |
| Another Abbas aide, Yasser Abed Rabbo, told the AFP news agency that recognition of Israel's Jewish character was a demand for Palestinians "to become part of the global Zionist movement". | Another Abbas aide, Yasser Abed Rabbo, told the AFP news agency that recognition of Israel's Jewish character was a demand for Palestinians "to become part of the global Zionist movement". |
| The militant Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, said the speech reflected Mr Netanyahu's "racist and extremist ideology". | |
| Are you in the Palestinian territories or Israel? What do you think of Benjamin Netanyahu's views of a Palestinian state? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in the Palestinian territories or Israel? What do you think of Benjamin Netanyahu's views of a Palestinian state? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |