Israel won't accept "unilateral" recognition of Palestine: NetanyahuDecember 19, 2014 - 12:58 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday, Dec 18 Israel would never accept the "unilateral" recognition of a Palestinian state, after a draft resolution calling for a final peace deal was submitted to the UN, according to Agence France-Presse. In a statement from his office, Netanyahu accused Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas of "thinking he can threaten us by taking unilateral steps" over statehood. "He doesn't understand that his authority in the West Bank will be overturned by Hamas like it was in Gaza," the Israeli premier added. "We will never accept unilateral diktats," Netanyahu said. The Palestinian draft resolution, submitted on Wednesday to the UN in New York, sets a 12-month deadline for wrapping up negotiations on a final settlement and the end of 2017 as the timeframe for completing an Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian territories. A final peace deal would pave the way to the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as a shared capital, according to the text. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Leiberman also played down the chances of the Palestinians' UN bid achieving a breakthrough. "Without Israel's agreement nothing will change," he said in a statement. "The UN Security Council would do better to deal with the issues truly important to the safety and security of the citizens of the world... and not waste time on Palestinian gimmicks," Leiberman said. Photo: Olivier Fitoussi Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |