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Last update - 11:47 25/11/2009
Netanyahu: If Palestinians act unilaterally, so will Israel
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that Israel would respond to any unilateral Palestinian steps - particularly declarations of statehood - with one-sided steps of its own.

This was the prime minister's first response to a Palestinian initiative to ask the United Nations Security Council to endorse a Palestinian state, seen as an appeal for international backing.

In his address to the Saban Forum in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said that Israel wants negotiations toward a full peace accord. There is no substitute for negotiations, he said, and unilateral action would only unravel earlier agreements between Israel and the Palestinians.
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"There is no substitute for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and any unilateral path will only unravel the framework of agreements between us and will only bring unilateral steps from Israel's side," Netanyahu said.

The path to peace in the Middle East was at the negotiating table, said Netanyahu, adding that he was not interested in "negotiating for the sake of negotiations."

The prime minister emphasized that negotiations must begin at once, in good faith between the two sides. There was no point in wasting time, he said.

The negotiations would not be easy, he said, and would have to cover sensitive issues. Israeli leaders must be brave of heart to see this go forth, he said, but so too must the Palestinians.

The negotiations must cover the security situation, he added, citing three central challenges that must be addressed in order to achieve peace.

First of all, he said, Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

Second of all, Israel must find a way to fight the threat of rockets from militants in the Gaza Strip.

And third, he said, Israel's right to self-defense must be accepted.

If Israel and the Palestinians just began peace negotiations, said Netanyahu, "we can surprise the world."

The prime minister referred to the future of Iran's contentious nuclear program as a turning point in the 21th century, adding that extremism was on the rise in the Middle East.

Iran will try to foil peace between Israel and its neighbors, Netanyahu warned. The international community must thus understand the underlying dangers of a nuclear Iran.

The prime minister added that before peace could be achieved, the Palestinian rocket capability must be neutralized.

Netanyahu thanked President Barack Obama for his administration's continued support of Israel's security. Former U.S. president Bill Clinton told the same forum just before Netanyahu's speech that Israel must give Obama a chance, adding that Middle East peace could be solved during the American leader's term.

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      1.   Israels unilateral responses 20:44  |  bernard ross 15/11/09
      2.   Netanyahu: If Palestinians act unilaterally, so will Israel 20:49  |  Axel 15/11/09
      3.   Acting alone 20:50  |  Bazmann 15/11/09
      4.   and what would those be? 20:52  |  Dave Duncan 15/11/09
      5.   Good faith? From Bibi? You`ve got to be joking. 20:54  |  Michael 15/11/09
      6.   `If Palestinians act unilaterally, so will Israel` 20:57  |  Colin Wright 15/11/09
      7.   No unilateral steps?? What do you call SETTLEMENTS? 20:57  |  Katherine 15/11/09
      8.   It`s just Israel being Israel 21:11  |  Natallie Durson 15/11/09
      9.   ...and the upshot.... war. 21:13  |  S 15/11/09
      10.   Iran???? 21:16  |  directrob 15/11/09
      11.   If Israel acted unilaterally, why shouldn`t the Palestinians? 21:34  |  Apa 15/11/09
      12.   how the hell did Iran creep into this? 21:35  |  Welshman 15/11/09
      13.   No substitute for negotiations 21:37  |  heinz 15/11/09
      14.   Listen to Nutandyahu,s double speak 21:40  |  Labhras 15/11/09
      15.   unilateral action 21:41  |  yahev 15/11/09
      16.   Foolish anti-Israelis 21:42  |  SDHD 15/11/09
      17.   Obama has decided to give the Palestinians a state 21:42  |  nathan 15/11/09
      18.   Solution 22:06  |  Christopher 15/11/09
      19.   Rocket Capabilty 22:07  |  Ahmet 15/11/09
      20.   Irony 22:15  |  Brent 15/11/09
      21.   #11 Christopher - Thanks! 22:30  |  BDS 15/11/09
      22.   Netanyahu must demand the PALs publically change their minds 22:35  |  vik 15/11/09
      23.   Neither side will get it all 22:44  |  Lawyer 15/11/09
      24.   Funny! 22:50  |  Osama 15/11/09
      25.   Why are Israelis faking worries about 2-state? 22:59  |  Yehuda ben Rahem 15/11/09
      26.   Give Palestinians statehood, then attack Iran! 22:59  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 15/11/09
      27.   Bibi, you blew it and time ran out, too bad so sad... 22:59  |  BBSNews 15/11/09
      28.   vik, it`s all about hatred and revenge for you eh? 23:03  |  BBSNews 15/11/09
      29.   # 18 christopher 23:03  |  Axel 15/11/09
      30.   Erga omnes legal interest in Palestinan Self-Determination 23:16  |  Legal Eagle 15/11/09
      31.   a palestinian state now 23:18  |  matteo d`agostino,it 15/11/09
      32.   # 18 christopher - 2 23:21  |  Axel 15/11/09
      33.   The declaration of the state of Israel was a unilateral decision! 23:28  |  Hippocrates 15/11/09
      34.   #8; It`s Natalie Durson being Natalie Durson 23:32  |  Mark from Georgia 15/11/09
      35.   Oi, Mr Netanyahu, did you know... 23:32  |  Maureen Ann 15/11/09
      36.   Unilateral Action would be disaster for the Palestinians 23:36  |  Mark Lincoln 15/11/09
      37.   Michael-UK 23:39  |  Gianni 15/11/09
      38.   Arabs have already 22 countries 23:40  |  Valdi 15/11/09
      39.   Whem does Israel do anythung except act unilaterally?? 23:40  |  Silvienne 15/11/09
      40.   The Palis like their victim hood 23:46  |  David Stoler 15/11/09
      41.   #7; Katherine, It`s called DEFENSE 23:47  |  Mark from Georgia 15/11/09
      42.   Peace for the israelis and Palestinians 00:02  |  Francis J. Donovan 16/11/09
      43.   only problem with Netanyahu 00:09  |  Kelly Brians 16/11/09
      44.   But Bibi, Israel is acting unilaterally all the time... 00:19  |  Esther 16/11/09
      45.   Unilateral steps means technically no end to conflict 00:26  |  Smadar 16/11/09
      46.   Israel will act unilateraly also? 00:39  |  Chemex 16/11/09
      47.   palestinians unitaterlly action 00:51  |  dubliner 16/11/09
      48.   US position 00:55  |  Clarity 16/11/09
      49.   It sounds Like Israel Is Desperate 01:10  |  George 16/11/09
      50.   Lasting Peace Is Objective, Not Servitude 01:24  |  Vladek 16/11/09
      51.   #1 But what if that declaration is recognized by the UNSC? 01:45  |  Johnboy 16/11/09
      52.   You ARE already acting unilaterally! 02:01  |  Mariano 16/11/09
      53.   Is it just me or 02:03  |  Rick 16/11/09
      54.   Pals better not take unilateral action; it is a loss-loss for the 02:05  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 16/11/09
      55.   Bibi - Expert at Double Speak 02:26  |  Peter Wallace 16/11/09
      56.   I must be living 02:29  |  EGB 16/11/09
      57.   so what what bibi going to do thats he is not doing now 02:32  |  Reza Shah 16/11/09
      58.   #1 to bernard ross 02:34  |  eric 16/11/09
      59.   US government ...Israel is perfect 02:36  |  jc 16/11/09
      60.   If Palestinians Act Like Israelis 02:44  |  Mark of Lewiston 16/11/09
      61.   Christopher in Boston Mass Would that be the Final Solution? 04:01  |  jim the mechanic 16/11/09
      62.   Unilateral declaration of yet another palestinian state .. 04:19  |  Akram Zekaria 16/11/09
      63.   Israel Does NOT want PEACE 07:50  |  khan 16/11/09
      64.   Bibi wants to act unilaterally!! 08:16  |  Ahmed from Bahrain 16/11/09
      65.   Arabs forgo claim on Israeli land 08:27  |  Chaim Ben Kahan 16/11/09
      66.   The one state solution 08:31  |  lapin 16/11/09
      67.   "unilateral action would only unravel earlier agreements"(2nd try 09:20  |  eric 16/11/09
      68.   Natallie where were you this long time? 20:08  |  Tony Silver 17/11/09
      69.   no.11 12:30  |  Samuel 18/11/09
      70.   no12 12:34  |  Samuel 18/11/09
      71.   no14 12:41  |  Samuel 18/11/09
      72.   no.18 12:45  |  Samuel 18/11/09
      73.   no.22 13:02  |  Samuel 18/11/09
      74.   no34 13:13  |  Samuel 18/11/09
      75.   no68 13:54  |  Samuel 18/11/09
      76.   no.63 14:46  |  Samuel 18/11/09
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