Netanyahu 'may back Palestinian state'

Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu may endorse a Palestinian state when he meets US president Barack Obama in Washington tomorrow, a minister said.

That would mark a significant shift for Mr Netanyahu, who has made clear in the past that he does not think the Palestinians are ready to rule themselves.

His position has put him at odds with long-standing US policy that supports Palestinian statehood as the cornerstone of Middle East peace efforts.

Senior White House officials said Mr Obama’s meeting with Mr Netanyahu was “part of his commitment that he’s made since day one of the administration to pursue comprehensive peace in the Middle East, including a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians”.

Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak said last night he thought an agreement with the Palestinians could be achieved within three years.

“I think and believe that Netanyahu will tell Obama this government is prepared to go for a political process that will result in two peoples living side by side in peace and mutual respect,” Barak told Channel 2 TV.

But he did not use the word state, leaving open other options for Mr Netanyahu.

After the Israeli prime minister made a lightning visit to Jordan on Thursday to meet the king, a senior Jordanian government official said Mr Netanyahu was likely to endorse a two-state solution when he met Mr Obama.

When they meet, the two allies will be grappling with diverging policies on how to approach the Middle East conflict. They do not see eye-to-eye on the Palestinian issue or on the Obama administration’s efforts to open a dialogue with Israel’s arch foes, Syria and Iran.

There has been a flurry of diplomatic activity surrounding Syria in recent weeks. An Obama envoy was in Damascus to try to repair strained relations and assured the government the US was committed to pursuing a comprehensive Middle East peace that would include the Syria-Israel track.

Last year, Turkey mediated indirect talks between Israel and Syria but Damascus halted them over the Gaza war.

The recent messages from both sides have not been positive. On Friday, Syrian President Bashar Assad said his country was interested in resuming indirect talks but did not see the new hardline Israeli government as a good partner.

Syria is demanding Israel cede all the Golan Heights, territory captured from Syria in 1967. But just days ago, Mr Netanyahu said Israel would not leave the Golan.

The US and its Arab allies see the establishment of a Palestinian state as the key to broader Middle East peace.

And even if Mr Netanyahu expresses support for a Palestinian state, it will not be easy for his hawkish government to make the sweeping concessions needed such as freezing Jewish settlement in the West Bank and sharing the holy city of Jerusalem.

Mr Netanyahu has said the old formula of trading land for peace has been unsuccessful. He has suggested focusing instead on building up the Palestinian economy and security services loyal to moderate Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

Aides say he favours giving Palestinians the powers to govern themselves, but minus the powers that could threaten Israel – establishing an army, making treaties with states including Iran, importing heavy weapons, or controlling air space close to Israel’s international airport.

If Mr Netanyahu does endorse a Palestinian state or agree to resume contacts with Syria, he will almost certainly want something in return from Mr Obama – a tougher line on Iran.

Mr Netanyahu has hinted he would be prepared to take military action against Iran to stop it from developing nuclear weapons – something US vice president Joe Biden said would be “ill-advised”.