USA: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS A FINAL PEACE SETTLEMENT WITH THE PALESTINIANS SHOULD GO ON A "FAST TRACK"

Record ID: 350299

  • Title: USA: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS A FINAL PEACE SETTLEMENT WITH THE PALESTINIANS SHOULD GO ON A "FAST TRACK"
  • Date: 16th November 1997
  • Summary: NDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 16, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU STEPS UP TO PODIUM TO SPEAK 0.07 2. SV PEOPLE ON STAGE APPLAUDING 0.11 3. MCU NETANYAHU SAYING: I CALL ON THE PALESTINIANS TO RECIEVE . OUR OUTSTRETCHED HAND. I IMPLORE THEM NOT TO REPEAT, YET .
  • Embargoed: 1st December 1997 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA444F0TZ49HWZYMO0WOTEDOCRI
  • Story Text: - INTRO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said a final peace settlement with Israel's Palestinian neighbors should go on a "fast track" before the process frays.

    Addressing a gathering of North American jewish community leaders in Indianapolis on Sunday (November 16), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered an "outstretched hand" to Israel's Palestinian neighbours.

    "I call on the Palestinians to receive our outstretched hands. I warn them not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Do not miss this opportunity," Netanyahu said.

    The Israeli Prime Minister continued to call for peace with the Palestinians, but offered no ready solutions to their conflict.

    "I know that it's much easier to receive praise from all over the world by merely giving more and more," said Netanyahu. "We know that taking this easy route invites disaster. It has never brought peace, and it never will." Netanyahu spoke two days after meeting in London on Friday with United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. His comments followed a week of high-level talks in Washington between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators aimed at restarting the stalled peace process.

    Albright also met this weekend with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to reapply U.S. pressure on the peace process.

    Unlike most previous U.S. visits by Israeli prime ministers, Netanyahu was not scheduled to meet with President Bill Clinton, which was viewed by some as an expression of U.S. impatience with Israel's conservative-led government.

    Netanyahu spoke to the General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations, which represents jewish groups that raise hundreds of millions of dollars for Israel annually.

    On the subject of Iraq and the simmering crisis over Baghdad's call to remove U.S. participants from United Nations arms inspection teams, Netanyahu stated "Yes, Saddam Hussein is at it again," and urged Americans, and Israelis alike, to unite behind President Clinton "at this moment, when he is standing down Saddam Hussein." Netanyahu acknowledged that Israel is capable of fending off an Iraqi attack, but added he hopes the crisis does not end in violent confrontation.


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