Jerusalem, April 28: Israel`s Defence Minister said in an interview published on Tuesday that he expects Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to the principle of Palestinian statehood — something the Israeli leader has balked at doing since taking office a month ago.
Netanyahu is coming under increasing pressure from Washington to resume peacemaking with the Palestinians, a process designed ultimately to create a Palestinian state that would live alongside Israel peacefully within fixed borders.
He has stepped back from his original plan to hold off on political negotiations while working with the Palestinians to improve their economy. But Netanyahu, who plans to visit the White House next month, has stopped short of endorsing a separate Palestinian state.
In an interview with the Haaretz daily, Defence Minister Ehud Barak suggested that Netanyahu could relent.
"I believe that during Netanyahu`s visit to Washington, Israel must formulate how it intends to move forward, and that formula will not propose three states for eight peoples," Barak said.
The Prime Minister`s Office would not comment. But an aide to the Prime Minister said a policy review was under way and should be completed around the time Netanyahu goes to Washington.
The same official said there was "excellent coordination" between Netanyahu and his Defence Minister. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn`t authorised to publicly discuss emerging policy.
The Palestinians hope to set up a state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in the 1967 war.
Bureau Report
