Israel needs to strengthen Palestinian moderates by bolstering Palestinian Authority security forces with the help of the international community along with rapid economic development of their economy, Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu said Monday.
The remarks by the normally hawkish leader, who is expected to be tasked with forming the next government, were the first indication that he is inching to the Center as he seeks to bring the ruling Kadima Party into his coalition.
"We need to strengthen the Palestinian moderates and weaken the radicals by pursuing rapid economic growth and bolstering the security apparatuses of the Palestinian security authority," Netanyahu told a gathering of American Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.
"If the Palestinian Authority is willing to work with us, and together with the US administration and perhaps other governments we can move very rapidly to change reality on the ground which is worth one thousand peace conferences," he said.
The Likud leader pointed to the success in the recent American training of Palestinian security forces in the West Bank city of Jenin, noting that the Fatah-run Palestinian areas in the West Bank remained relatively calm during the recent 22-day Israeli military operation against Hamas in Gaza.
"A combination of political talk and rapid economic development is the best way to create a new reality in the PA," Netanyahu said in his address to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations who are holding their annual Israel event.
Netanyahu has long said that he aims to focus on improving the economic situation in the West Bank since no peace agreement is possible with the divided Palestinians in the foreseeable future.
In his remarks, Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to further unilateral withdrawals but, in a new twist, added that "doing nothing also has its consequences."
The conservative leader restated his goal on forming a national unity government, over and beyond "the national camp," but said that a new direction was needed for the county.
"It is not enough to have a government of national unity, but to move in the right direction," he said.
Netanyahu also said that Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons could torpedo any movement with the Palestinian moderates.
"The greatest task of our time is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons," he said.
