Israel Matzav: Netanyahu: Now it's clear who wants peace

Netanyahu: Now it's clear who wants peace

At the Eilat Journalism Conference on Sunday, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that now that we've agreed to strangle Judea and Samaria for the next ten months (at least), it's clear who wants peace.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the Eilat Conference for Journalism that it is now clear to every objective observer that Israel wants peace. He noted, however, that he does not see the same willingness or determination on the Palestinian side. "I see other signs. I see stipulating all kinds of preconditions to talks from the first moment," said Netanyahu.

Well, Netanyahu may be right, but we didn't need a freeze to tell us that, and there aren't too many objective observers in these parts. Take quartet envoy Tony Blair for instance. Please, take him.

Speaking to CNN's John King, the former UK prime minister said that there were "many things, positive things, happening on the ground at the moment." He specifically cited growth in the Palestinian economy in the West Bank, as well as the fact that checkpoints were being "opened or removed."

"There's a lot of bustle and activity on the West Bank and in Gaza," he noted.

...

He said that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was "genuine and serious in wanting negotiations [with the Palestinians] to start." On the Palestinian side, he said, people "need to know that negotiations are going to be credible," and that they will "genuinely lead to the two-state solution."

In other words, Blair says that the 'Palestinians' want 'peace' but only if Israel surrenders.

What could go wrong?

Israel Matzav: Netanyahu: Now it's clear who wants peace