ACTION

Monday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to

renew a freeze on West Bank settlement construction in

exchange for recognizing Israel as a Jewish nation-state.

"If the Palestinian leadership will say unequivocally to its

people that it recognizes Israel as the homeland of the

Jewish people, I will be ready to convene my government

and request a further suspension," Netanyahu told parliament.

Netanyahu has been under heavy international pressure

to renew a just-expired slowdown on settlement construction.

The Palestinians have said they will walk away from

negotiations if the settlement curbs aren't extended.

Impasse
There was immediate speculation that the conditional offer

was unlikely to resolve the impasse over settlements,

which stalled peace talks just a month after they were

launched. Only moments after the proposal was revealed,

a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

said they had rejected it. Netanyahu's comments came

amid a spat over the Israeli government's approval of a

bill to require new citizens to pledge a loyalty oath to

a "Jewish and democratic" state.

In general, the Arab minority — making up one in five

Israelis — view the oath as a provocation aimed at further

making them second-class citizens in a country where

they already feel discriminated against. Netanyahu said

the bill, which must still be voted on by parliament,

reflected the essence of Israel at a time when many

are trying to blur the connection between the Jewish

people and their homeland.

"The state of Israel is the national state of the Jewish

people and is a democratic state in which all its

citizens — Jews and non-Jews — enjoy full equal

rights," he said. "Whoever wants to join us, has

to recognize us."

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[I believe it is time to remove the prime minister

of Israel out of office. Start off by voting in person

that has passion for serving country.

As in serving fellow citizens.

Netanyahu has been prime minister for how

long now? Too long. He hasn't lifted a finger to

serve Jewish people. It is apparent, he is

only interested in serving himself. By the

looks of things, he has never been service

oriented. If he was he would have accomplished

something by now.

Why make either side suffer when the simple

solution to the problem is replace what ills.

Palestinian prime minister can't negotiate with

someone who has no interest in negotiating.

I mean give the man a break,

least he's trying.

Israel prime minister can't expect Palestine to

just give in to his wishes, not after the minster

nearly toppled Palestine!

What you want to bet Palestine and new Israel

prime minister get along fairly well? Place a person

who has compassion into the mix, and it will result in;

a done deal. Negotiating for peace agreement be a cake walk.]