INSTANT VIEW-Reactions to Israeli PM Netanyahu's speech
June 14 (Reuters) - Following are reactions to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu keynote speech near Tel Aviv on Sunday in which he said he would accept a demilitarised Palestinian state along side the Jewish state.
EITAN GILBOA, ISRAELI EXPERT ON U.S. RELATIONS:
"The United States should be impressed and should consider this a good start for a major effort to implement Obama's plan for Middle East peace.
"If (Obama) looks at the half-full glass this should be sufficient, but if he is looking for confrontation with Israel you would look and say the glass is half-empty."
MICHAEL OREN, HISTORIAN AND ISRAEL'S NEW WASHINGTON ENVOY:
"It would be tragic if the Palestinians were to once again miss a sincere opportunity and an offer for coexistence and two states living side by side ... The speech was highly representative of the Israeli electorate, one would hope that they would reach out and embrace this offer.
SAEB EREKAT, SENIOR PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR:
"President Obama, the ball is in your court tonight. You have the choice tonight. You can deal with Netanyahu as a prime minister above the law, close the file of peace tonight and engulf the whole area in the direction of violence, chaos, extremism and bloodletting. The other choice is to make Netanyahu abide by the "road map" plan for peace.
"The peace process has been moving at the speed of a tortoise. Tonight, Netanyahu has flipped it over on its back."
NABIL ABU RDAINAH, PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS'S SPOKESMAN:
"Netanyahu's remarks have sabotaged all initiatives, paralysed all efforts being made and challenges the Palestinian, Arab and American positions."
JUDY KRAMER, ISRAELI SETTLER:
"I felt it was a very strong speech and I feel proud. He was very clear about how much we want peace and Obama was very unclear as to why the Palestinians have suffered so much: this was largely brought on by their own doing."
YESHA, UMBRELLA GROUP FOR SETTLERS:
"YESHA regrets the prime minister's acceptance of the creation of a demilitarised Palestinian state."
DANIEL BEN-SIMON, LAWMAKER FROM LABOUR, PART OF COALITION:
"It is a big step for Israel and a giant step for Netanyahu, because to mention creation of a Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel is something I never heard from him before. But we will have to see it on the ground. He will need to show the world that he means what he says."
(Writing by Ori Lewis)
EITAN GILBOA, ISRAELI EXPERT ON U.S. RELATIONS:
"The United States should be impressed and should consider this a good start for a major effort to implement Obama's plan for Middle East peace.
"If (Obama) looks at the half-full glass this should be sufficient, but if he is looking for confrontation with Israel you would look and say the glass is half-empty."
MICHAEL OREN, HISTORIAN AND ISRAEL'S NEW WASHINGTON ENVOY:
"It would be tragic if the Palestinians were to once again miss a sincere opportunity and an offer for coexistence and two states living side by side ... The speech was highly representative of the Israeli electorate, one would hope that they would reach out and embrace this offer.
SAEB EREKAT, SENIOR PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR:
"President Obama, the ball is in your court tonight. You have the choice tonight. You can deal with Netanyahu as a prime minister above the law, close the file of peace tonight and engulf the whole area in the direction of violence, chaos, extremism and bloodletting. The other choice is to make Netanyahu abide by the "road map" plan for peace.
"The peace process has been moving at the speed of a tortoise. Tonight, Netanyahu has flipped it over on its back."
NABIL ABU RDAINAH, PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS'S SPOKESMAN:
"Netanyahu's remarks have sabotaged all initiatives, paralysed all efforts being made and challenges the Palestinian, Arab and American positions."
JUDY KRAMER, ISRAELI SETTLER:
"I felt it was a very strong speech and I feel proud. He was very clear about how much we want peace and Obama was very unclear as to why the Palestinians have suffered so much: this was largely brought on by their own doing."
YESHA, UMBRELLA GROUP FOR SETTLERS:
"YESHA regrets the prime minister's acceptance of the creation of a demilitarised Palestinian state."
DANIEL BEN-SIMON, LAWMAKER FROM LABOUR, PART OF COALITION:
"It is a big step for Israel and a giant step for Netanyahu, because to mention creation of a Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel is something I never heard from him before. But we will have to see it on the ground. He will need to show the world that he means what he says."
(Writing by Ori Lewis)
© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved.
Gold fever spreads