Erekat: Netanyahu is sabotaging two-state solution

Last update - 12:34 21/01/2010
By Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondent

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is working to end the possibility of a two-state solution by insisting on a continued Israeli presence along a future Palestinian state's borders, chief Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat told Israel Radio on Thursday.

Erekat was responding to Netanyahu's Wednesday statement, according to which Israel would demand a continued military presence along the future Palestinian state's border with Jordan.

"Israel must ensure that rockets aren't being smuggled into territories in its vicinity," the premier had told reporters, and to achieve that "an Israeli presence will be necessary along the Palestinian state's eastern side."

Netanyahu had also urged the Palestinians to return to the negotiation table without any preconditions, saying that the "PA climbed a high tree and are content on staying there. The more ladders they are offered, the higher they ascend."

In response, Erekat said that while "Netanyahu calls for the Palestinians to resume peace talks, he is effectually leaving the Palestinians nothing to negotiate about."

Kadima MK Meir Sheetrit also responded to the premier's comments, saying Thursday that "Netanyahu was ruining any chance for negotiations and is proving, again and again, that he is not interested in peace."

"There is no way that the Palestinians would agree to such an offer, and whoever raises it should negotiate with himself," Sheetrit said.

MK Talab al-Sana (United Arab List-Ta'al) said in response to the PM's statement that Israel's eastern border was secure enough.

"With a peace with Jordan in effect as well as a U.S. presence in Iraq, what Netanyahu's offer amounts to is an assassination of any hope for peace with the Palestinian people," al-Sana said.

"This is a statement that reveals the true face of the current government, which talks of peace but which perpetuates the occupation and invites more confrontation.