Communicated by PM's
Media Advisor
Jerusalem, 5 July 1998

PM Netanyahu responds to Cairo Summit Meeting

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today (Sunday), 5.7.98, said in response to the summit meeting held in Cairo:

"Israel is working toward the achievement of a peace agreement with the Palestinians. There is no substitute for direct bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, disrupted by the Palestinian Authority 15 months ago. The agreement on the second redeployment is being held up by the Palestinian side's failure to keep its commitments. Israel expects the Palestinians to fulfil these obligations in practice: by detaining terrorists, collecting illegal arms, outlawing terrorist organizations,stopping incitement against Israel, reducing the Palestinian police to the number prescribed by the Oslo agreement, handing over murderers, and canceling the Palestinian Charter which calls for Israel's destruction.

Threats and violence are not the way to make progress in the peace negotiations.

Israel calls on Jordan and Egypt to use their influence on the Palestinian Authority to live up to its commitments according to the agreements."