Israel PM says no deal unless PLO recognizes 'Jewish state'

JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday ruled out any deal with the PLO unless they recognize Israel as a Jewish state and give up the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

And he said Israel and the Palestinians were getting further away from reaching a peace deal.

"They (Palestinians) say they will never recognize a Jewish state and that they will never give up on the right of return," Netanyahu said in remarks broadcast on Israeli public radio.

"I want to make clear that I will not accept an agreement that does not cancel the (refugees') right of return and which does not include Palestinian recognition of the Jewish state," he said in an address to the ruling right-wing Likud-Beitenu faction.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=680607