"A true peace, a lasting peace will be achieved only with mutual and painful concessions from both sides," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday at the official launch of direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians at the White House.
"The people of Israel, and I as their prime minister, are prepared to walk this road and to go a long way in a short time to achieve a genuine peace that will bring our people security prosperity - and good neighbors".
"We have to get from disagreement to agreement – a big task, I outlined in my speech at Bar Ilan University at the beginning of my term, the two pillars of peace that will enable us to resolve all outstanding issues are legitimacy and security."
"Abbas, You expect us to recognize a Palestinian state as the nation state of the Palestinian people, we expect you to recognize Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people."
"Mutual recognition between us is indispensible to clarifying to our people that the conflict between us is over".
"I respect your people's desire for sovereignty and I'm convinced its possible to reconcile that desire with Israel's needs for security".
Netanyahu concluding his address with the word "peace" in all three languages: "Shalom, Salaam, Peace".
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton officially launched the talks, saying the presence of the two sides was itself a step toward peace, and that the U.S. would not force any peace agreement on either of the sides. "We cannot and we will not impose a solution," she said.
"Only you can make the decision necessary to reach an agreement for the Israeli and Palestinian people," adding that "success will take patience, persistence and leadership."
"By being here today, you each have taken an important step toward freeing your peoples from the shackles of a history we cannot change and moving toward a future of peace and dignity that only you can create".
"We understand the suspicion and skepticism that so many feel, by being here today, you each have taken an important step toward freeing your people from the shackles of a history we cannot change."
"The people of Israel, and I as their prime minister, are prepared to walk this road and to go a long way in a short time to achieve a genuine peace that will bring our people security prosperity - and good neighbors".
"We have to get from disagreement to agreement – a big task, I outlined in my speech at Bar Ilan University at the beginning of my term, the two pillars of peace that will enable us to resolve all outstanding issues are legitimacy and security."
"Abbas, You expect us to recognize a Palestinian state as the nation state of the Palestinian people, we expect you to recognize Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people."
"Mutual recognition between us is indispensible to clarifying to our people that the conflict between us is over".
"I respect your people's desire for sovereignty and I'm convinced its possible to reconcile that desire with Israel's needs for security".
Netanyahu concluding his address with the word "peace" in all three languages: "Shalom, Salaam, Peace".
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton officially launched the talks, saying the presence of the two sides was itself a step toward peace, and that the U.S. would not force any peace agreement on either of the sides. "We cannot and we will not impose a solution," she said.
"Only you can make the decision necessary to reach an agreement for the Israeli and Palestinian people," adding that "success will take patience, persistence and leadership."
"By being here today, you each have taken an important step toward freeing your peoples from the shackles of a history we cannot change and moving toward a future of peace and dignity that only you can create".
"We understand the suspicion and skepticism that so many feel, by being here today, you each have taken an important step toward freeing your people from the shackles of a history we cannot change."
