RELATED:Barak at UN: Strong Israel is revenge of the Nazis’ victimsDermer in US hints backstage diplomacy on PA trackQuartet refuses to endorse unilateral state; PA upset"We have to continue the whole time to look for ways to move forward in this new reality because the alternatives are more complicated, more complex and more dangerous from any other option," Barak said. "We have to continue to move towards trying to find arrangements with all our neighbors."Barak said he would not respond to what is happening in Egypt, explaining that "it's up to the Egyptian people to find a way and to do it according with their own constitution, norms and practices."Barak said that the recent events in Egypt and elsewhere make a lot of Israelis "feel weak-kneed.""Israel is strong, although we do have to follow things very carefully and make sure that Israel remains strong and to upgrade our security situation," he said. "That said, the reality will not change for the better if we will sink into inaction. We have to move forward all the time with the peace process. We have to diminish tensions."Barak said he and Ban discussed prospects by the Quartet of Mideast peacemakers and the international community to move forward on the stalled Mideast peace process and recent developments in Egypt and North Africa.The Quartet met last Saturday in Munich and expressed regret at Israel's decision to end a 10-month moratorium on construction in settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem which led to the collapse of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks just weeks after they had restarted in September. The US, UN and EU and others have called for urgent progress on efforts to press Israel and the Palestinians to resume talks.Barak said Israel recently approved a set of confidence-building measures and is ready to open immediate discussions with the Palestinians on how to establish security arrangements with the future Palestinian state. Ultimately, he said, both sides have to deal with the core outstanding issues face-to-face "in order to have a breakthrough or to find what could be done if a full agreement cannot be achieved."
Barak: Israel must move ahead toward peace
Defense Minister discusses peace and stability in light of developments in Egypt, Tunisia with UN Secretary-General Ban.
RELATED:Barak at UN: Strong Israel is revenge of the Nazis’ victimsDermer in US hints backstage diplomacy on PA trackQuartet refuses to endorse unilateral state; PA upset"We have to continue the whole time to look for ways to move forward in this new reality because the alternatives are more complicated, more complex and more dangerous from any other option," Barak said. "We have to continue to move towards trying to find arrangements with all our neighbors."Barak said he would not respond to what is happening in Egypt, explaining that "it's up to the Egyptian people to find a way and to do it according with their own constitution, norms and practices."Barak said that the recent events in Egypt and elsewhere make a lot of Israelis "feel weak-kneed.""Israel is strong, although we do have to follow things very carefully and make sure that Israel remains strong and to upgrade our security situation," he said. "That said, the reality will not change for the better if we will sink into inaction. We have to move forward all the time with the peace process. We have to diminish tensions."Barak said he and Ban discussed prospects by the Quartet of Mideast peacemakers and the international community to move forward on the stalled Mideast peace process and recent developments in Egypt and North Africa.The Quartet met last Saturday in Munich and expressed regret at Israel's decision to end a 10-month moratorium on construction in settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem which led to the collapse of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks just weeks after they had restarted in September. The US, UN and EU and others have called for urgent progress on efforts to press Israel and the Palestinians to resume talks.Barak said Israel recently approved a set of confidence-building measures and is ready to open immediate discussions with the Palestinians on how to establish security arrangements with the future Palestinian state. Ultimately, he said, both sides have to deal with the core outstanding issues face-to-face "in order to have a breakthrough or to find what could be done if a full agreement cannot be achieved."