MK says French proposal buoys Palestinian obstinacy

31 January 2016, 1:50 pm

Edit

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the French ultimatum — renewed peace talks or they would recognize Palestine — encourages the Palestinians “not to compromise.”

“You’ve certainly heard about the proposal raised in French circles, to convene an international conference with a threat over it — that if it doesn’t succeed, then France will adopt the Palestinian position, to a large degree,” says Netanyahu. “This is incentive to the Palestinians to come and not compromise. The essence of negotiations is compromise, and the French initiative, as it was reported, gives the Palestinians reason not to.”

“Our position is very clear,” adds Netanyahu. “We are willing to enter direct negotiations without preconditions and without prescribed terms.”