In falling closer into line with the American president on one of his top foreign policy goals, Netanyahu took a risk that his right-leaning coalition might rebel. Leaders of Jewish Home said late Sunday that they might pull their small party out of the government to protest what they called a violation of agreements struck when the coalition was formed.
But leaders of bigger parties that hold the coalition together swallowed hard, aware of the need to repair a rift with Israel's superpower ally and apparently placated by the rigid terms spelled out in Netanyahu's speech.
The prime minister said Israel would not tolerate a Palestinian state with its own army, control of its own borders and airspace, and the ability to make defense pacts with other nations. For the first time, he said Israel wanted the U.S. and other countries to guarantee the future state's demilitarization.
"If we receive this undertaking, for demilitarization and the security arrangements required by Israel, and if the Palestinians recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people," Netanyahu said, "we will be prepared as part of a future peace accord to reach a solution of a demilitarized Palestinian state alongside the Jewish state."
Palestinian leaders dismissed Netanyahu's call to begin peace talks "immediately, without preconditions," as a nonstarter.
"Netanyahu left us with nothing to negotiate, as he systematically took nearly every issue off the table," said Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian Authority negotiator. "Nor did he accept a Palestinian state; instead, he announced a series of conditions and qualifications that render a viable, independent and sovereign state impossible."
Nabil abu Rudaineh, an aide to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said the speech was "not enough to start a serious peace process."
Ahmad Bahar, a Hamas leader in Gaza, said the speech "proves that resistance is the only way for the Palestinians to regain their legitimate rights." Hamas' alliance with Iran, hostility to Israel and violent opposition to Abbas' administration make Israelis skeptical that any peace accord can work.
It remains to be seen whether the tough positions laid out by Israel and Abbas' aides Sunday represent a continued standoff or the beginning of posturing for a new round of peace talks.
