Mixed reactions in Israel to Netanyahu speech

Tel Aviv - The Israeli political echelon was divided Monday in response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech Sunday in which he endorsed, albeit with conditions, the principle of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu, outlining his peace policies in a highly-anticipated speech, said that Israel would accept a Palestinian state, subject to it being demilitarized and Palestinians accepting Israel as a Jewish state. President Shimon Peres, one of the architects of the peace process with the Palestinians, issued a statement after Netanyahu's address, calling it 'true and courageous.' Netanyahu's remarks, Peres said, 'are very important regarding the strengthening of stability in the Middle East and constitute an opening of direct negotiations towards both a regional peace and a bilateral peace between Israel and the Palestinians.' Ultra-nationalist Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, currently on an official visit to Europe and North America, said Netanyahu's speech combined the right of the Jewish people to a state in the Land of Israel, with Israel's aspirations for peace. 'In his speech Netanyahu opened the door to the Palestinians and the Arab states to immediately begin peace negotiations,' a statement from Lieberman's office said. Settler leaders, on the other hand, were less than happy, with Netanyahu's remarks. 'Who knows better than Netanyahu that even a demilitarized Palestinian state will eventually become armed and threaten Israel's very existence,' Israel Radio quoted the Settlers' Council as saying. Dissatisfaction was also heard within the premier's own Likud Party. Freshman legislator Danny Danon said Netanyahu had 'gave in to American pressure,' a reference to the US expectation that the Israel leader publicly endorse Palestinian statehood. Hardliners in other coalition parties expressed similar sentiments. Opposing them, politicians on the left and in the centre of the Israeli political spectrum said they were pleased with what they heard. Minister of Social Welfare Isaac Herzog, of the centre-left Labour Party, said the speech presented a framework for a political process which would result in a Palestinian state while protecting Israel's vital interests. The centrist Kadima party, which had refused to enter into a coalition with Netanyahu because he would not commit to a Palestinian state when he was setting up his government, said it thought Israel had taken a step in the right direction, but added that his true test would come with his actions, as opposed to his statements.