Netanyahu Signals Readiness to Compromise With Palestinians

NewsMax ^ | Friday, 28 Jun 2013 02:56 AM | NewsMax

[haffast]

JERUSALEM — Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, known for his rigid negotiating positions, has been sending signals that he is ready for significant compromises in a peace deal with the Palestinians — and that he accepts the narrative increasingly favored by his opponents that says ending the West Bank occupation is essential for Israel itself.

While some of Netanyahu's political allies say he is serious, the Palestinians remain skeptical. This week's visit by Secretary of State John Kerry could show which way things can go.

In recent speeches, Netanyahu has stressed the importance of reaching a peace deal, saying it is essential to ensuring Israel's long-term survival.

On Thursday, he made reference to Israel's nightmare scenario in which the peace process breaks down, Palestinians drop their pursuit of an independent state, and instead demand equal rights in a single, binational state compromising today's Israel plus the West Bank and Gaza.

Most experts believe that given the high Palestinian birthrate, such an Israel could not long survive as a country that is both democratic and somehow Jewish in character.

"It's correct. We do not want a binational state," Netanyahu said at a memorial ceremony for the Zionist visionary Theodor Herzl.

On the front page of the Haaretz daily, an anonymous Cabinet minister in Netanyahu's Likud Party was quoted as saying Thursday that Netanyahu is prepared to withdraw from most of the West Bank and evacuate numerous Jewish settlement as part of a peace deal.

snip

[haffast]

"Netanyahu recently told the Washington Post that if Kerry were to pitch a tent to hold peace talks with the Palestinians, he would "stay in the tent and negotiate for as long as it takes to work out a solution of peace and security.""

Kerry's Meetings 'Positive', Say Officials
By Elad Benari, Canada - 6/29/2013, 2:27 AM

"The contents of the meeting were not disclosed, but an American official was quoted by Kol Yisrael radio as having said that the meeting was “detailed and meaningful." The two agreed to meet for a third time on Saturday night."
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/169421#.Uc5NSZzKXnY

Windows and doors are closing:

Caspian Sea gas pipeline to go through Greece
28 June 2013

"BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — BP, the main developer of the huge Shah Deniz gas field in the Caspian Sea, confirmed on Friday that the pipeline to Europe will go through Greece and then under the sea into Italy."

"The European Union and the United States both enthusiastically support building connections to Azerbaijan’s gas as a way to reduce dependence on Russian gas."
http://www.cyprusgasnews.com/archives/2834

Netanyahu is rushing to get Israeli gas to market in the EU before the competition in order to ease Israel's economic woes.

The US wants Israel to have enough money to keep buying American goods(gas and oil development, military arms,etc), as our largest export market in the Middle East. Plus, she can better afford to defend herself.

[svcw]

To the headline: I do not beleive it

[Theodore R.]

I thought Netanyahu had already compromised with the Palestinians, many times in fact. What is there left to compromise?

[plain talk]

Most experts believe that given the high Palestinian birthrate, such an Israel could not long survive as a country that is both democratic and somehow Jewish in character. "It's correct. We do not want a binational state," Netanyahu said at a memorial ceremony for the Zionist visionary Theodor Herzl.

I don't know what is going on here specifically ... but this much we know ... muslims breed like rabbits. They can wreak havoc with their numbers. They are taking over Europe.

[bgill]

Don’t do it, Bibi. You know they’ll lie and be back to bombing Israel by next week.