Sunday, June 5, 2011

Netanyahu: Palestinians not interested in solution based on 1967 borders

The violent clashes on the border with Syria prove that the Palestinians are not interested in a solution based on 1967 borders, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.

Rather, they are interested in a solution based on 1948 borders, Netanyahu said during a special closed meeting held with the Defense Minister and Israel Defense Forces chief in order to discuss the situation on the border with Syria.

A reported 20 Syrian protesters were killed during demonstrations held on the border to mark Naksa Day, the anniversary of Israel's victory in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Netanyahu said that Palestinians are trying to "flood Israel with refugees."
"At the same time, the small Israel absorbed hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees in 1948. Arab countries have not done a thing in order to absorb and help Palestinians."
Senior officials in Jerusalem placed the responsibility for Sunday's violence on the Syrian police.
"Syria is trying to divert attention from the massacre that [Syria] is carrying out against its citizens with the provocation on the border, We sent messages in recent days to both Syria and Lebanon. Lebanon prevented the protests, but Syria decided to carry out a provocation."