From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Netanyahu: I won’t wait for the Palestinians to make peace with Arab world
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells a group of Israeli envoys serving in Africa, Asia and Latin America that Israel is pushing ahead with forging ties with the Arab world despite moribund efforts to reach peace with the Palestinians.
“I won’t suspend efforts to reach peace with the Arab world until the Palestinians make peace with us. I won’t do it,” he says, describing a process of “normalization” with the region.
“We are going to the [Arab world] and are not subject to the whims of the Palestinians,” he says, repeating hopes that ties with the Arab world will open up new opportunities to reach a deal with the Palestinians.
He also says Israeli bilateral trade with Turkey is on the rise, despite diplomatic tensions between the two former allies.
— with Raphael Ahren
The Times of Israel Community.