Speaking to Likud faction members, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu explained that yishuvim in Yehuda and Shomron will not be evacuated in a US-brokered peace agreement with the PA (Palestinian Authority). Netanyahu met with party members following the departure of US Secretary of State John Kerry, who wrapped up another round of shuttle diplomacy without any significant progress in hand. Nevertheless, Kerry exhibited an air of optimism.

Mr. Netanyahu told colleagues that a framework agreement had not yet been reached, adding the Americans have come around somewhat and are seeing the Israeli position on a number of issues, signaling progress.

Yisrael Hayom quotes the prime minister saying “in the emerging document, there are things you and I don’t like, but there are also things the Palestinians don’t like. In the best case, there will be a cold peace, as with Jordan, and in the worst case, Afghanistan.”

He added “In our entire region, from Morocco in the west to Pakistan in the east, there is no country that is not undergoing turbulence other than Israel, and that teaches us that you cannot base policy on illusions. Every policy based on illusions eventually bursts [when it meets] reality. … I will not support a binational state. A settlement freeze during negotiations is not on the agenda. The talks are not about dismantling settlements and I have no intention of evacuating any settlements in Judea and Samaria.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)