Israeli Prime Minister to EU: "Peace Is in Israel's Interest No Less Than It Is in Europe's Interest"

[Ha'aretz] Barak Ravid - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday told visiting Czech Premier Mirek Topolanek, whose country holds the EU's six-month rotating presidency, "Peace is in Israel's interest no less than it is in Europe's interest, and there's no need to make the upgrade in relations with Israel conditional on progress on the peace process." When Topolanek brought up the issue of construction in West Bank settlements, Netanyahu responded, "If Israelis can't build homes in the West Bank, then Palestinians shouldn't be allowed to either." "I have no plans to build new settlements, but if someone wants to build a new home [in an existing one], I don't think there's a problem." He characterized the West Bank as "disputed territory" over which negotiations must be held.


2009-04-24 06:00:00

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