PM Netanyahu's Remarks at the Start of the Weekly Cabinet Meeting

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 06:24:37 EST

PM Netanyahu's Remarks at the Start of the Weekly Cabinet Meeting
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Following are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks at the start of
the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 21.3.10:

"This evening I will leave for Washington to address the AIPAC Policy
Conference, in the presence of many Senators and Congressmen. I will also
meet with the Congressional leadership. I plan to speak about our policy -
on both the peace and security issues, as well as about Iran and Jerusalem.

Our policy toward Jerusalem is the same policy of all Israeli governments in
the past 42 years and it has not changed. From our point-of-view,
construction in Jerusalem is like construction in Tel Aviv. These are the
things which we have made very clear to the American administration. We
also made it clear that in the proximity talks with the Palestinians, while
each side will be able to raise its positions on the issues in dispute, a
tangible solution to the fundamental problems between us and the
Palestinians will be achievable only in direct peace talks. It cannot be
otherwise. Only if we sit together, discuss the issues together and reach
joint solutions, will we be able to reach a genuine peace agreement.

I think that it is very important that these matters not be left subject to
commentary and speculation; therefore, I initiated the letter that I sent to
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton so that these issues would be very
clear. I must say that I sent the positions after consulting with my
unanimous colleagues in the seven-member ministerial forum. I think that
Israel's position is very clear and it will also be so during my visit to
the American capital.

Today, the Cabinet will approve a multi-year plan for the economic
development of the minority communities in Israel. I would like to thank
Minister Avishay Braverman for the hard work he put into formulating this
plan. In the first stage, we have chosen 12 Bedouin and Arab communities,
with approximately 400,000 residents. We will invest NIS 800 million in
these communities in developing employment, housing solutions and
strengthening human capital, and in boosting law enforcement and personal
security.

It is important to us that alongside full civil equality before the law,
which exists - of course - for all Israelis, that there be equality of
economic opportunity in employment, infrastructures, education and quality
of life, in the non-Jewish sector. Our goal will be to expand the initial
plan to many other communities. I think that this is very important in our
view of the State of Israel as a regional power and as a global
technological power, that all of its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens be able
to enjoy the benefits of internal prosperity and progress."

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PM Netanyahu's Remarks at the Start of the Weekly Cabinet Meeting