Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Calls for Limited Statehood for Palestinians, Willing to Talk without Preconditions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he will back a Palestinian state - but only if it is completely demilitarized. Okay, so that's a start, at least. This is the first time he has called for the creation of a Palestinian state. Up to now, he has resisted endorsing the creation of such a state as part of a Mideast peace deal. President Barack Obama's intense pressure has shown some results, despite the fact that President Jimmy Carter is saying that the U.S. is on a collision course with Israel. Of course, the sticking point will be his requirements that a Palestinian state must accept the existence of Israel and must have no army, no control of its air space and no way of smuggling in weapons. His statements are encouraging because he has offered to talk to the Palestinians immediately.

He said he was willing to talk with no preconditions, adding: "We want to live with you in peace as good neighbors." Mr Netanyahu also said he was willing to go to Damascus, Riyadh and Beirut in pursuit of a Middle East peace deal.

Netanyahu also said the Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and he declared that the solution of the Palestinian refugee problem must be "outside Israel." Palestinians claim that refugees from the 1948-49 war that followed Israel's creation and their millions of descendants have the right to reclaim their original homes.

"I call on you, our Palestinian neighbors, and to the leadership of the Palestinian Authority: Let us begin peace negotiations immediately, without preconditions," he said. "Israel is committed to international agreements and expects all the other parties to fulfill their obligations as well." Netanyahu also called for Arab leaders to meet him and contribute to Palestinian economic development. Source: The Huffington Post

Overall, the only sticking point for me is the fact Israel still wants to be the "Big Brother" and not allow them to have an army is a bit unfair. If they have the right government in place and not terrorists like Hamas, then they have every right to be able to function as an autonomous state and not as a territory of Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu, by his own admission, has taken a hard-line position that had led to him being painted in a box and drawing the ire of many across the globe, possibly alienating Israel's strongest ally, the U.S.A. Let's see what will come out of this going forward.

"Crooks and Liars" has an interesting commentary on Bibi Netanyahu's speech. CLICK HERE.
The Jerusalem Post has an interesting article about a Syrian op-ed comparing Netanyahu's proposal to apartheid.