 |
 |
 |
|
|
Israel's Labor party leader Amir Peretz speaks during a Labor party convention in Jerusalem Sunday. (AP)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By Israel Insider staff and partners January 24, 2006 |
|
| |
The leader of Israel's Labor Party said Sunday that he would work to sign a final peace deal with the Palestinians by the end of the decade if his party wins elections March 28.
Although Amir Peretz's dovish party is not expected to win, it is likely to have influence over policy in the next government since the front-runner, the Kadima Party, has said it would invite Labor into a coalition.
"The Labor Party strives to reach a permanent agreement by the end of the decade, an agreement whose significance is the end of the conflict and separation from the Palestinians," Peretz told a security conference near Tel Aviv.
If elected, Labor will do all it can to iron out a deal through "direct negotiations" with the Palestinians, but will carry out unilateral steps to separate from the Palestinians if dialogue is not possible, Peretz said.
A final deal hammered out by Labor would grant the Palestinians a state, parts of east Jerusalem - which they want for a capital - and territory where isolated Jewish settlements are located in Judea and Samaria, the former labor union boss said. Israel would maintain under its control large Jewish settlement blocs, Peretz said.
Of the major candidates, Peretz is the only one who is trying to emphasize domestic and social issues instead of diplomacy. He said Israel's occupation of Judea and Samaria is harmful economically as well as politically.
Peretz spoke on the day the government released its annual poverty report, which showed that almost one in four Israelis are below the poverty line, including one in three children.
The AP contributed to this report.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
