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Netanyahu: ‘Palestinians would do well to recognize reality, work toward peace’

“The Palestinians would do well to recognize reality and work toward peace, not extremism,” Netanyahu stated.

By Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Palestinians to acknowledge reality, and by doing so advance the prospects of peace.

“The Palestinians would do well to recognize reality and work toward peace, not extremism,” Netanyahu stated at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, at an event for outstanding Mossad personnel.

He called on the Palestinians to “acknowledge an additional fact regarding Jerusalem: Not only is it the capital of Israel but in Jerusalem we uphold freedom of worship for all faiths and it is we who are making this promise in the Middle East even though no one else does and despite frequent severe failures in this regard.”

In reference to the statement by Palestinian Authority (PA) head Mahmoud Abbas that the PA is withdrawing from all peace agreements with Israel since the 1993 Oslo Accords, Netanyahu stated that “all these statements fail to impress us. The truth will win in the end and many countries will certainly recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and will also move their embassies.”

Abbas made the statements during an emergency meeting of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul that was convened in response to the US’ recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

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Abbas stated he will refuse any future US involvement in the peace process and threatened that there will be “no peace or stability” in the region until Jerusalem is recognized as the Palestinian capital.

“We will tell the Israelis that we are no longer committed to any agreement from Oslo until today,” he said.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Danny Danon charged that the PA “is doing all it can to avoid any chance for negotiations and is actively thwarting initiatives towards reconciliation.”

“The international community must not allow Chairman Abbas to evade direct negotiations yet again. It must be made clear to the Palestinian leadership that they must stop their dangerous incitement which threatens the stability of the region,” he concluded.