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Netanyahu: Fighting terrorism 'first condition for peace'

netanyahu

March 23, 1997
Web posted at: 2:33 p.m. EST (1933 GMT)

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Palestinian authorities must do more to combat terrorism if the peace process between the two sides is to continue, but stopped short of saying he was ready to suspend all talks.


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  • "I am putting the first condition for peace on the table, and that is I want them to start fighting terrorism as they promised," Netanyahu said Sunday during an interview on CNN's "Late Edition." "They've given the green light to terrorism. The traffic light hasn't changed yet. I want to see a red light there ... Then we can discuss many other issues." icon (407 K / 37 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

    The prime minister said the two sides were still talking, despite an Islamist suicide bomb attack that killed three women in Tel Aviv Friday. But he indicated that future progress would be dependent upon whether Palestinian authorities take decisive action against Hamas and other militant Islamic groups. icon (247 K / 23 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

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    Netanyahu said Israel had evidence that the leadership of the Palestinian authority had met with leaders of Hamas before Friday's bombing at a cafe in Tel Aviv. Hamas has claimed responsibility for that attack, which killed three Israelis. icon (244 K / 23 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

    "We have solid information that those organizations left those meetings understanding they have a green light and soon enough, after a year when there was no green light, they proceed to act on it and they bombed these women, these babies, in downtown Tel Aviv," Netanyahu said.

    erakat

    In response, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told CNN that it was the sense of desperation among Palestinians caused by Netanyahu's hard-line policies that has led to the renewal of violence. icon (229 K / 21 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

    "He and he alone bears the responsibility," Erakat said. icon (252 K / 24 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

    Netanyahu again defended his government's decision to build housing for Jewish settlers in an historically Arab section of East Jerusalem, which critics view as the provocation that sparked the current round of violence. icon (145 K / 13 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

    erekat.quote

    The Israeli leader said his country would not have its decisions dictated by terrorists, and he likened the situation to an American government backing down if a terrorist group made demands about what could be done in Washington or Oklahoma City.

    "If we started accepting these terrorist dictates, there wouldn't be an Israel," he said, noting that even though the previous Israeli government was more conciliatory on the issue of settlements, terrorist acts still took place.

    "(Terrorists) can always find a reason. That's not the point. You can't begin the course ... of saying, 'Maybe if we don't do this or don't do that, they'll leave us alone.' We have to tell the terrorists ... 'no go.'" icon (185 K / 17 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

    He also said American disapproval would not alter his government's decision to build new settlements in Jerusalem.

    "Among the best of friends, there can be serious disagreements," Netanyahu said. "Jerusalem for us -- for Jewish people everywhere, for me as a Jew -- is the rock of our existence

     
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