PLO’s Erekat: Netanyahu should be judged for his actions, not his words

Chief Palestinian negotiator and Palestinian Liberation Organization, or PLO, executive committee member Saeb Erekat argued on Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be judged by his actions and not his words, after Bibi recently announced his support for a twostate solution.

Erekat’s position was spurred by Netanyahu’s statements from a press conference ahead of a meeting with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, in Jerusalem, during which he reiterated his “commitment to peace,” and that he supported a twostate solution to end the IsraeliPalestinian conflict.

However, his conciliatory remarks were in stark contrast to controversial comments made during his recent electoral campaign, such as when he promised that under his leadership, a Palestinian State would never see the light of day.

Erekat denounced the Israeli government’s settlement policy, and explained that when Mogherini was visiting the region to promote the peace process, Israeli authorities announced plans to build 90 residential units in a settlement near Bethlehem, in addition to other settlements in East Jerusalem, both occupied territories.

“It is clear through Netanyahu’s actions, comments, and remarks that Israel has paved a new wave of racist and extremist policies and is not a partner for peace,” Erekat said.

“It is not about Mr. Netanyahu’s public relations skills claiming that he supports a twostate solution, but about his actions. The new Israeli cabinet has shown its commitment to consolidate an Apartheid regime in occupied Palestine,” the chief negotiator added.