Netanyahu reaches out to Palestinians

[bemildred]

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday his government will be a "partner for peace" with the Palestinians.

Speaking to an economic forum, Netanyahu said, "Palestinians should understand that they have in our government a partner for peace, for security and for rapid economic development of (the) Palestinian economy; I believe that this could be done."

This comes a day after the central committee of the left of center Labor Party voted to join a coalition government headed by Netanyahu, the leader of the right of center Likud party.

Under the agreement, Labor leader Ehud Barak would remain Israeli defense minister, and Netanyahu would achieve his goal of broadening a coalition made up mainly of right-wing parties.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/03/25/israel.netanyahu/

[rateyes]

1. Actions speak louder than words Bibi.

Get the hell out of the occupied territories.

[Scurrilous]

2. Netanyahu, Lieberman 'struck secret deal for West Bank construction'

<snip>

"Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu has struck a secret deal with Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman for highly contentious construction on West Bank land known as E1, Army Radio reported Wednesday.

A source close to the negotiations between the pair told Army Radio that the plan had been agreed upon even though it did not appear in the official document detailing the coalition deal between Yisrael Beiteinu and Netanyahu's Likud.

The plan is for the West Bank settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim to build 3000 new housing units on the territory, which stretches between it and Jerusalem, the source was quoted as saying.

Construction in the area is particularly sensitive because it would create contiguity between the settlement and the capital, which in turn would prevent Palestinian construction between East Jerusalem and Ramallah.

This would also make it difficult to reach agreement between Israel and the Palestinians on the question of permanent borders.

For this reason, the United States has strongly opposed this sort of Israeli construction for more than a decade. Israeli governments have avoided construction in this area, mostly because of U.S. pressure."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1073771.html

[Jefferson23]

3. THIEVES !!!

[geek tragedy]

7. And Bibi's trained monkey Ehud Barak will peddle this crap

to the western media.

[LeftishBrit]

4. As long as he's got far-righties in the government, that sounds pretty hollow

[Bragi]

5. The headline is ridiculous

He is NOT "reaching out" to anyone. He is mouthing platitudes into a microphone so as to mislead people into thinking he isn't a fascist.

- B

[geek tragedy]

6. Peace through apartheid. Prosperity through permanent occupation.

That Bibi's a real sweetheart.

[Idealism]

9. A Carthagian peace...

[Howardx]

8. the title led me to believe

israel was attacking gaza again!