Jerusalem, September 24, 1997
PM NETANYAHU COMMENTS ON UPCOMING MEETING BETWEEN FOREIGN MINISTER DAVID
LEVY AND ABU-MAZEN, AND ON RECENT TALKS HELD BY GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES
IN WASHINGTON.
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today (Wed) 24.9.97, commented on the
upcoming meeting between Foreign Minister David Levy and Abu Mazen, and
the other talks held by government representatives in Washington:
"Dialogue is one of the essential requirements for progress toward a
solution, on both the political and security levels. This dialogue is
ongoing, and it is still too early to summarize them. I have received an
initial report from our people in Washington, and I will certainly be
holding consultations after the Foreign Minister's meeting with
Abu-Mazen."
"I consider that today, especially after revealing the identities of the
suicide bombers, many in the world, including the U.S.A., and I allow
myself to say even the Palestinian Authority, understand the inescapable
need to fight against terrorism. This can no longer be blurred or covered
up. In the end, terrorism comes back to harm all of us, and the facts
regarding it are becoming increasingly clear. What is needed at this
moment is for the Palestinian Authority and those who lead it, to join the
fight against terrorism and thus make progress in the political process
possible. This is our position, and I hope it will be realized in the
coming period."
The Prime Minister spoke at the ceremony of the sale of the Israel
National Oil Company.