Netanyahu: We want peace which guarantees full control over West Bank

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel wants peace which guarantees control over all the West Bank, Maan News Agency reported yesterday.

During a speech in the Knesset, he said: “We are working continuously to protect our borders and permanent peace which guarantees Israel’s security control over all the area located to west of the River Jordan [the West Bank].”

He added: “Peace does not mean evacuation of settlers from their homes. Peace is based on deepening our relations with the moderate countries in the Middle East which do not consider Israel an enemy.”

Netanyahu said that he is ready to talk with a Palestinian government without the Islamic Movement Hamas.

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“Our hands are extended for real peace, but not for sides which want to expel us from here and called for the destruction of Israel like what Hamas wants.”

Netanyahu reiterated that this is the final Israeli and American decision. “This is our position as well as the American position,” he said.

During his speech he hailed the American President Donald Trump over his latest decision to withdraw from UNESCO.