New York, September 24, 2011
New York, September 24, 2011
Mr. Netanyahu called on Mr. Abbas to “recognize the Jewish State, and make peace with us. In such a genuine peace, Israel is prepared to make painful compromises. We believe that the Palestinians should be neither the citizens of Israel nor its subjects. They should live in a free State of their own.
“But they should be ready, like us, for compromise. And we will know that they’re ready for compromise and for peace when they start taking Israel’s security requirements seriously and when they stop denying our historical connection to our ancient homeland.”
He offered to conduct direct negotiations with Mr. Abbas immediately in New York, where the General Assembly’s general debate is being held.
“President Abbas, why don’t you join me? We have to stop negotiating about the negotiations. Let’s just get on with it. Let’s negotiate peace.”
When a peace agreement is signed between the two sides, “Israel will not be the last country to welcome a Palestinian State as a new member of the United Nations. We will be the first.”
In his address Mr. Netanyahu also extended a “hand of peace” towards peoples across the Middle East and North Africa.
UN News Center.