Last update - 04:09 05/05/2009
Netanyahu: 'We want peace with Arab world'
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent In an unexpectedly short speech before AIPAC's policy conference delegates late Monday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated his desire to pursue Mideast peace talks, and voiced his concern over Iran's progressing nuclear program.
The 5:30-minute address was transmitted via satellite from Jerusalem to a crowd made up of the ambassadors of 66 countries and over half of the U.S. members of congress.
After thanking AIPAC activists for their work and the Congress members for their support, PM Netanyahu commented on where he saw Mideast peace talks: "Next week I'll be visiting Egypt with President Mubarak and I plan to discuss both matters with him - cooperation between the Arab world and cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians."
"We seek normalization of economic ties, diplomatic ties we want peace with the Arab world, but we also want peace with the Palestinians. That peace eluded us for more than 30 years. Six successive prime-ministers of Israel and two American presidents have not succeeded in achieving this peace," Netanyahu added.
"I believe it's possible to achieve, but I think it requires a fresh approach," Netanyahu said, adding that the new approach he suggests is "pursuing a triple track towards peace between Israel and Palestinians, a political track, a security track and economic track. The (political) track means that we resume peace negotiations without any delay, the sooner the better, without any preconditions."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1083175.html