Declaring that the biggest danger to peace is “100 percentism” on both sides, Energy Minister Moshe Shahal said Sunday that he is willing to negotiate under certain conditions with members of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
He thereby became the second Cabinet minister to support talks with the PLO, which the national unity coalition agreement specifically rules out.
The only other minister to take that position publicly is Ezer Weizman, the minister of science and development, who, like Shahal, is a member of the Labor Party.
Shahal spoke Sunday night at the opening of a convention of the International Society of Political Psychology at Tel Aviv University.
He said he would be prepared to negotiate with any Palestinians, including PLO members, under certain conditions.
They are recognition of Israel’s right to exist, acceptance of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338; and rejection of terrorism and violence.
Shahal said he also would insist that the potential negotiators promise there will be no future demands, such as for a Palestinian right of return after peace is achieved.
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