Netanyahu gives no ground on talks

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave no ground on peace with the Palestinians in a speech yesterday, reasserting they must recognise Israel as a Jewish state if they wanted a deal for a state of their own.

In the policy speech, Netanyahu again attacked a UN report that accused Israel, along with Hamas militants, of war crimes in the December-January Gaza conflict. He said Israel would resist any attempt to try its leaders on such charges abroad. Opening the winter session of parliament, Netanyahu gave no indication that intense efforts by US President Barack Obama to restart peace negotiations suspended since December were making any progress.

“There is no alternative to Palestinian leaders showing courage by recognising the Jewish state... This has been and remains the true key to peace,” said Netanyahu.