Palestinian occupation:

Defence Minister advocates flexibility

ISRAEL: Israeli Defence Minister and leader of the Labour Party Ehud Barak admitted Monday that it will be impossible to perpetuate occupation and repression in occupied Palestinian territories, and proposed flexibility in the Israeli government.

“Israel must understand that the world will not tolerate more decades of domination over the Palestinian people,” he said, while showing his concern for recent disagreements between Tel Aviv and Washington regarding the Middle East peace process.

According to Barak, who commanded the military offensive against Gaza in December 2008-January 2009, Netanyahu Government “must do more to try to achieve peace with the Palestinians, as the recent rift with the United States is not good for Israel.” He called to achieve a “diplomatic initiative” foe peace, including talks with the Palestinian on key issues of the Middle East conflict. “We have strong links with the United States, great links of friendship and a strategic relation. We receive $3 billion from them every year and get from them the best planes in the world,” he recalled.

He added that “for all these reasons, we must act to change things,” though he expressed doubts about Netanyahu’s willingness to strengthen the links with the White House as his predecessor (Ehud Olmert) did with then President George W. Bush.

However, Barak reiterated that his government will not freeze the construction of Jewish settlements in Jerusalem, the main demand of the Palestinian National Authority and Washington to put an end to the impasse in the peace process.

“Regarding Jerusalem, it is not my personal policy, but that of all Israeli governments, including Yitzhak Rabin, Golda Meir, Shimon Peres (current Israeli President) in the last 42 years,” he justified, as he considered unacceptable the PNA demand.

Last week, US President Barack Obama expressed disappointment about the course of negotiations in the region and said that Washington would never impose its will on Israelis and Palestinians if they refuse to comply with commitments reached. Tel Aviv, Prensa Latina