(Ynetnews, Haaretz). Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed his efforts to promote peace with the Palestinians during the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee's session Monday.Netanyahu mentioned the massive removal of roadblocks and checkpoints in the West Bank and the expansion of activity of the Allenby Bridge crossing between Jordan and the West Bank.
"We have yet to schedule a meeting with Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) and the settlement construction issue has not been finalized yet," the prime minister said.
Netanyahu claimed that following his policy speech at the Bar-Ilan University last June, his principles have found their way into the international discourse. "The two main principles are recognition of Israel as the Jewish nation-state and effective demilitarization," he explained, going on to say that recognition of these points is a basic condition, "otherwise the conflict cannot be resolved."
The prime minister also referred to the promotion of the peace process through US special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell.
"We were asked not to build at all. We made it clear that we would build some 2,500 units which are already underway, and several days ago we approved 450 additional units," he said.
"I told the Americans we would consider cutting down on construction. We shall balance the will to make a gesture in order to promote negotiations and a peace process, and the need to enable normal living for the residents of Judea and Samaria. Cutting down on construction will be for a limited period and we have not reached an agreement with the Americans on the time span."
Netanyahu conveyed a clear message to the Palestinians by saying, "They expected a complete halt of construction. Of the freeze; it is now clear that will not happen. Jerusalem is not a settlement and construction will go on as planned."
The Knesset meeting began with a moment of silence in memory of Captain Asaf Ramon who was killed in the F-16 jet crash Sunday. The prime minister said it is a day of national mourning and added, "I think Ilan and Asaf Ramon, a father and son, embodied all that is beautiful in our people, both the sacrifice and the ascent."
He added, "I wish I could think of something that would give strength to Rona and her children…Maybe they will find some comfort in having the whole nation grieve with them over the exemplary behavior these two extraordinary people left us."
Netanyahu called for more "effective" action, in comments appeared that to signal - amid wide speculation that Israel could opt to attack Iranian nuclear facilities - that it had not given up on international diplomacy to curb Tehran's atomic ambitions.
"I believe that now is the time to start harsh sanctions against Iran - if not now then when? These harsh sanctions can be effective," Netanyahu was quoted by a parliamentary official as telling a legislative committee.
"I believe that the international community can act effectively," he said, according to the official, who briefed reporters on Netanyahu's remarks to parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
"The Iranian regime is weak, the Iranian people would not rally around the regime if they felt for the first time that there was a danger to their regime - and this would be a new situation," Netanyahu said.
