Netanyahu: Israel needs multi-lateral peace deal

Sources say PM is expected to tell Clinton of need to expand peace to larger circle of Arab countries; specific countries he was referring to not clear.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
Netanyahu GA speech 311 (photo credit: Avi Ohayon)
Netanyahu GA speech 311
(photo credit: Avi Ohayon)
Israel needs to make peace with an expanded circle of Arab countries at the same time that it is formulating a final status agreement with the Palestinians, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to tell US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton when the two met in New York on Thursday, according to diplomatic sources.
They did not state which countries he was referencing.
RELATED:Netanyahu on building plans: 'Jerusalem isn't a settlement'Erakat: PM sabotaging talks for approving new housesAnalysis: Would US work against unilateral 'Palestine?'Netanyahu discussed his meeting with Clinton and the stalled peace process in general when he met Wednesday morning with a group of senior American journalists from many of the major media organizations including CNN, CBS, ABC, Fox News and the Wall Street Journal.
Recent tensions with the US over continued east Jerusalem construction did not have an impact on the long term relationship with the US, and that the work of the two countries toward a peace deal with the Palestinians was continuing.
The best way to promote peace with the Palestinians is to solidify comprehensive security understandings between Israel and the US, Netanyahu is expected to tell Clinton, according to diplomatic sources.
In that meeting he plans to tell Clinton that given the enormous security challenges in the next decade, Israel's safety had to be assured in any peace deal reached with the Palestinians.
In Washington Clinton said that the US and other countries were "working every day, indeed every hour, to help create the conditions for negotiations to succeed. We still believe that a positive outcome is both possible and necessary." She added that, "The United States was deeply disappointed by the announcement of advanced planning for new housing units in sensitive areas of East Jerusalem. This announcement was counterproductive to our efforts to resume negotiations between the parties. We have long urged both parties to avoid actions which could undermine trust, including in Jerusalem. We will continue to work to resume negotiations to address this and other final status issues."