Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, Thursday, that comprehensive peace with the Palestinians in not a precondition for peace with Arab countries, and that many Arab states consider Israel a partner in “the war on Islamic terrorism.”
Netanyahu’s statements came during his meeting with the visiting Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
The Israeli Prime Minister stated that this resembles a significant change in politics of the Arab world, and that the “war on Islamic terrorism, either ISIS or Iran, are now a top priority for Israel and Arab countries.”
He added that the stances for achieving peace with the Palestinians have significantly changed, as peace with the Palestinians is no longer a precondition, or a passage, to peace with the Arab world.”
Netanyahu also stated that, right now, it became clear the peace with the Arab world is the passage for peace with the Palestinians.
“In the past, we thought that achieving peace with the Palestinians will grant us peace with the Arab world, but the current situation in the region proved the opposite,” he added, “It is now clear that taking the path of peace with the Arab states first, will lead us to peace with the Palestinians.”
In addition, Netanyahu accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas “continuing to reject the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state,” and claimed that this issue “is the core of the conflict.”
“The conflict was never about the establishment of a Palestinians State; every Israel government, including mine, are willing to accept a disarmed Palestinian state that recognizes Israel as a Jewish country.”
It is worth mentioning that Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a comprehensive peace agreement with Israel, including mutual recognition and diplomatic ties, on March 26, 1979, following by Jordan on October 26, 1994.
Although Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) have signed many agreements, starting with the Oslo agreement, signed by Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat, on September 13, 1993, Israel never recognized any of the UN and Security Council resolutions regarding its full withdrawal from all of the territories, occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem, and the Right of Return for the Palestinian refugees.
The Palestinian leadership, on the other hand, recognized Israel as a state, and recognized its right to exist on more than %78 of historic Palestine.
Israel is also ongoing with its illegal construction and expansion of Jewish-only colonies in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and continues to control all borders and natural resource, while the Palestinians are increasingly losing their lands for colonies, the Annexation Wall and military areas, including bases and training grounds.
