'PM won't commit to 2 states'

Likud member Akonis says establishment of independent Palestinian state will lead to 'second Hamastan'; Erekat says only Obama can compel Israel to accept two-state solution, urges US to 'stop stop dealing with Israel as an above-the-law state'

Yaheli Moran Zelikovich
Israel News
YNET News

One the eve of Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington for talks with President Barack Obama, Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar asked to remind the public that the last agreement between Israel and the Palestinians - the Wye accord – was signed during Netanyahu's previous tenure as prime minister. Speaking at a cultural forum in Holon on Saturday, Sa'ar reiterated Netanyahu's plan to "advance the peace process with the Palestinians on the economic, diplomatic and security-related tracks."



Knesset Member Ofir Akonis, also a member of the ruling Likud party, told a cultural forum in Beersheba that he does not believe PM Netanyahu will commit to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state during his visit to Washington.



"The establishment of a Palestinian state will lead to a second Hamastan, and its army will threaten the citizens of Israel," the MK said. "The Palestinians also reject the two-state initiative because they stand by their refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.



"They are really looking to establish two states for one nation – the Palestinian nation," Akonis said. "The vast majority of Israelis, including representatives of the Opposition in Knesset, reject this formula."


'No double standards'

Meanwhile, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Saturday that only US President Obama can compel Israel to accept a two-state solution to end the Middle East conflict.



"The Obama administration is facing its first test. What is required now from the United States is to stop dealing with Israel as an above-the-law state," Erekat told AFP on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Jordan.



"Only Obama can compel Israel to accept the two-state solution and stop settlement activities. We don't want vagueness or public relations games."


Erekat warned against using "double standards" in the peace process.



"If the US administration decides to use double standards with Arabs and Israelis, the peace process will end before it begins," warned Erekat, who is taking part in the forum on the shores of the Dead Sea.


Amnon Meranda, AFP contributed to the report