Communicated by PM's Media Advisor Jerusalem, 2 July 1998 PM Netanyahu meets Canadian Minister Dion   Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today (Thursday), 2.7.98, with Canadian Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs Stephane Dion. At the start of the meeting, the Prime Minister answered questions on a number of issues: * Regarding his relations with President Ezer Weizman, Prime Minister Netanyahu said: "I think that, for the good of the country, it is important for the President and Prime Minister of the State of Israel to settle all issues on the agenda between them, and certainly not through public dispute. On this point, there was agreement between us. I think that our primary struggle today -- and this, I explained to President Weizman -- is to complete an agreement which is binding on both parties. For its part, Israel has made considerable progress on the redeployment. The Palestinians still have offered next to nothing in collecting weapons and explosives, in arresting murderers, in abrogating the Palestinian charter and in ending the incitement -- so that there will be no more terrorist attacks. I insist on this, and clarified this to the President; when there is progress on their side, very rapid progress will be possible on ours." * Regarding Arafat's statements on Jerusalem: "All these threats -- this is not an acceptable method to us. We are engaged in negotiations, trying to make progress, and they are making constant threats: If we do not get what we want, we will resort to terrorism, we will resort to violence. This is precisely the opposite of peace, and contravenes the Oslo Accord. What are we demanding that he honor? The Oslo Accord, as he promised. From our perspective, these are not wonderful agreements, but we are committed to them -- and he must be as well." * Regarding Canadian-Israeli relations in the wake of the Masha'al affair: "We have excellent relations with the Canadian government. Canada is a very close friend of the Government of Israel, and we discuss all matters." * Regarding contacts on the political negotiations: "There are ongoing contacts. The problem is not the mechanism of the contacts; the problem is their substance. In order for there to be progress, we very quickly encounter the question facing the Palestinians -- are you prepared to fulfill your part of the agreements, or not? Are you prepared to fight terrorism, or not? Are you prepared to collect weapons and explosives, or not? Are you prepared to imprison murderers and their leaders, or not? Are you prepared to end the incitement to propaganda and terrorism, or not? This is a decision that they must make. If they make the good and correct decisions, as I hope they will, we can very quickly make progress toward an agreement." The Prime Minister continued: "These are not Israel's conditions. These are the commitments that the Palestinians have given us, and they are not even new commitments. They were made five years ago in Oslo I, three years ago in Oslo II and 18 months ago in the Hebron agreement. How many times must we receive promises? We do not want promises; we want the fulfillment of commitments -- timetables, implementation and a supervision mechanism. As soon as these things exist, and we finally see the Palestinian Authority doing what it has promised in these areas which I have mentioned, it is my view that we will be able to very quickly reach an agreement, but only then. The agreement is not being delayed because of Israel; it is being delayed because the Palestinians refuse to fulfill their commitments."