The Palestinian Authority is taking advantage of the international community's "Pavlovian reflex" against Israel instead of taking steps that would promote peace in the Middle East, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, only two days after he announced his intent to formulate a new peace initiative.
Netanyahu's comments came after last week sources in the Prime Minister's Office said that the PM was considering a plan to cooperate with the Palestinians on the establishment of a Palestinian state with temporary borders, as part of an interim peace agreement with the Palestinian Authority that would be implemented immediately.
Netanyahu's decision to consider changing his strategy, which he said in recent consultations with advisers was spurred by the recent anti-government protests in the Arab world, is a step back from his previous statement that he wants to attempt to reach a final-status agreement within a year.
On Wednesday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas rejected the purported initiative, saying he would not accept an Israeli peace initiative if it called for temporary borders for a future Palestinian state.
Speaking in the wake of these recent comments during a joint press conference with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said on Sunday that it was Israel who was willing to take "many steps to promote peace and make compromises."
However, the premier added, "the Palestinians are the ones refusing to take similar steps, instead preferring to take advantage of the international community's Pavlovian reflex in their favor."
The Chilean President also referred to the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians during the press conference, saying that "the Palestinians have a right for their own state, and that the opportunity for peace should not be missed."