PNN
On Sunday an Israeli government official stated, on behalf of Israeli Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu, that Jewish settlers will continue to have the right to stay on Palestinian land, even after a peace deal is reached.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Friday, Netanyahu said he did not intend to uproot a single settler in a future Palestinian statehood agreement.
This would mean that any settlers would continue to live in the already constructed settlements, but under Palestinian rule ABC News report.
The statement has resulted in angry responses from both the Palestinian as well as pro-settler camps, the latter believing they should be contitune to be allowed to live under Israeli rule and not palestinan.
Naftali Bennet, a pro-settler and member of the Knesset stated that "the idea of Jewish settlements under Palestinian sovereignty is very dangerous and reflects an irrationality of values.”
Whilst Netanyahu's goverment have tried to rebuke the statements made by Bennet as being irresponsible and harming the goverment, the Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat, has also stated that the plan shows a lack of willingness for peace on behalf of the Israelis saying that "Anyone who says he wants to keep settlers in the Palestinian state is actually saying that he doesn't want a Palestinian state. No settler will be allowed to stay in the Palestinian state, not even a single one, because settlements are illegal and the presence of the settlers on the occupied lands is illegal."
This latest statement from Netanyahu is another potential stumbling block in the ongoing peace negotiations.
