We will discuss settlements, says Israeli ambassador

Israel is ready to discuss the issue of its settlements on the West Bank in an attempt to find a solution to the violence engulfing the Middle East, the country’s ambassador to the UK said today.

But envoy Zvi Shtauber insisted that the Palestinians and the wider Arab world had to recognise Israel’s right to exist, and desist from attacks aimed at destroying the state.

Claims by terror groups such as Hamas that they were fighting for an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories were bogus, Mr Shtauber told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

‘‘Hamas and many other organisations are using the slogan ‘end of occupation’,’’ he said.

‘‘When you ask them what does it mean precisely, ‘end of occupation’, they usually will not answer you directly, because according to their platform, ‘end of occupation’ is the end of the existence of the state of Israel.’’

He insisted: ‘‘My Government made it clear many times, we are ready to discuss the issue of settlements.

‘‘Within the political negotiations obviously the issue of settlement will be a major component and we are ready to discuss it, we are ready to come to a solution, we are ready to make painful compromises, but the basic need is for the other side to recognise that we also have the right to exist.

‘‘Mr Majority of the population of Israel is ready to discuss the issue of settlement. And please don’t forget that this campaign of terror did not start with occupation, as it is called.

‘‘The basic thing is that the other side must recognise that we are determined to stay and we also deserve a state.

‘‘And unfortunately the prevailing atmosphere nowadays in the Arabic world is to deny the very existence of the state of Israel.’’

He added: ‘‘We need peace ... if there would be serious proposals on the table, I’m sure that as in the past the Government of Israel would consider that carefully, and everybody would find us a very compromising and ready partner to peace.’’