Netanyahu: Peace deal impossible without Jewish state recognition

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reiterated Monday that without the Palestinian leadership's recognition of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people it would not be possible to advance the diplomatic process and reach a peace settlement. A statement from Netanyahu's office said he was insistent in his approach that such recognition was a matter of substance and principle that enjoyed wide recognition in the country and around the world. However, the statement continued by saying that the prime minister had never set this as a pre-condition for the opening of negotiations and dialogue with the Palestinians.