Netanyahu urges German president to push for Palestinian accountability

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls for the international community to press for a change of heart in the Palestinian Authority that would see its talk of peace on the global stage matched by similar rhetoric when it speaks to the Palestinian people.

At a press conference together with visiting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier the prime minister stressed the need to end Palestinian incitement in building peace.

Steinmeier’s visit, his first to Israel since becoming president in March and first to any country in that capacity outside Europe, comes after a recent row between Germany’s foreign minister and Netanyahu.

“What we would like to see is a change and the change would come from an international demand for accountability from the Palestinian authority and ask them to back their words outside with their words inside, that is teach their children peace,” Netanyahu says at a press conference in Jerusalem before the two men met for talks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at a joint press conference in Jerusalem, May 7, 2017. (AFP Photo/Pool/Ronen Zvulun)

“Peace is what we seek and peace is what we hope we can get. With your help and the help of other leaders who will ask for such a change of heart that is so important for our common future.”

“We recognize that for there to be peace we have to educate our children for peace,” Netanyahu says. “We do so in Israel I wish the same were true of the Palestinian Authority.”

Netanyahu canceled an April 25 meeting with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel after the visiting diplomat declined to call off his meetings with rights groups critical of Israel’s government.