10/22/2010

PM Netanyahu : Recognition of Jewish state only sign of peace readiness

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he speaks in the Jewish People Policy Institute's annual conference in Jerusalem, Friday, Oct. 22, 2010. (Getty Images / AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

October 22, 2010 (KATAKAMI / YNET) — Speaking at a conference on the future of the Jewish people, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that “only when our partners recognize the State of Israel as a Jewish state they will be ready for peace.”

The prime minister said this was his conclusion “after we left Gaza and had 12,000 rockets fired on us.” He noted that “the only peace which will survive is one that can be defended.”