The big holdup to peace between Palestinians and Israelis is Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said a leading negotiator for the Palestinian Authority on Monday.
Saeb Erekat, the chief PA negotiator for peace, said from Jordan’s World Economic Forum that Israel’s President Shimon Peres was right — the majority of Israelis want a two-state solution using 1967 pre-war lines, The Times of Israel reported. But existing Israeli government officials, under the leadership of the prime minister, are stymyingthe deal.
Mr. Erekat asked: If Mr. Netanyahu won’t support the two-state solution, “then what does he want? Does he want to keep his army in our independent Palestinian state?”
Mr. Erekat criticized Mr. Netanyahu for his stance, The Times of Israel reported.
“I know you are a democracy. I know you have a [governing] coalition, but usually a coalition has a program. I hope to hear from the prime minister that he accepts, to reflect the majority of Israelis, two states on the 1967 borders,” he said, in The Times of Israel.
He said the PA was ready to resume peace negotiations — but Mr. Netanyahu was holding up the process.
“Everyone on earth, everyone, is convinced that the solution is two states on the 1967 borders, with mutually agreed modifications,” Mr. Erekat said, in The Times of Israel report. “But the one person that you need to convince is the prime minister of Israel.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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