Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:

Oops! The demands that Netanyahu now faces are not only unacceptable to the
"right wing" elements of his ruling coalition - they aren't acceptable to
Kadima - or for that matter even the even more Left Meretz!

So here is the big question: Will the Israeli Left that rejects these
demands come out and reiterate their stand before Netanyahu lands in
Washington or will they mumble?

King: The two-state solution is a condition for achieving peace in the
region
http://petra.gov.jo/Artical.aspx?Lng=1&Section=8&Artical=108291

Amman May 14, 2009 (Petra - Jordan News agency)-- His Majesty King
Abdullah II told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday that
the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and an Israeli
withdrawal from all occupied Arab lands in accordance with the Arab Peace
Initiative and international resolutions were conditions for achieving
comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace.

During a brief meeting in Amman between the King and Netanyahu to
discuss regional peace-making, King Abdullah demanded an end to Israeli
settlement-building in the West Bank and unilateral actions intended to
change the status quo.

He also demanded a lifting of Israeli checkpoints in Palestinian
territories that restrict the movement of goods and people, an end to the
siege on the Gaza Strip and immediate negotiations with the Palestinian
National Authority in order to reach a two-state solution as soon as
possible.

During the talks, the King said Israel must stop archaeological
excavations and all other unilateral actions in Jerusalem that threaten
Muslim and Christian holy sites and that seek to alter the city's identity
and to drive out Jerusalem's Arab Muslim and Christian residents.

The region is at a critical juncture that demands an end to
procrastination in ending the conflict, King Abdullah told the Israeli prime
minister.

King Abdullah said that the Arab Peace Initiative is a historic
opportunity to achieve comprehensive peace that ensures Arab rights and
provides security and acceptance in the region for Israel.

He warned that the failure to seize this opportunity to end the
conflict will threaten the security and stability of the entire region, and
said that Israel will not achieve peace, security or stability until the
Palestinians realise their legitimate right to statehood and to live in
peace and security.

Israel must announce its commitment to the two-state solution and its
acceptance of the Arab Peace Initiative, and take the necessary steps
towards ending the conflict, King Abdullah told Netanyahu.

He added the two-state solution enjoys international consensus because
it is the only solution to the conflict and that there is no alternative to
ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The King also warned that economic empowerment and development of the
Palestinians is not an alternative to a political, two-state settlement.

He said that talk of economic empowerment outside the parameters of a
political solution is unacceptable, because it will not achieve lasting
peace and ultimately will visit more crises and conflict on the region.

The meeting between King Abdullah and the Israeli prime minister was
also attended by Chief of the Royal Hashemite Court Nasser Lozi and Minister
of Foreign Affairs Nasser Judeh.

Netanyahu returned to Israel after the brief meeting.

//Petra// O.