Netanyahu criticises Blair Over Assad''s British visit

Netanyahu criticises Blair Over Assad's British visit LONDON, Dec 23 (KUNA) -- The hardline Israeli Foreign Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has sharply criticised Britain for welcoming President Bashar Al-Assad of Syria to Downing Street last week.
Netanyahu who is currently visiting the country protested in an interview with The Times newspaper published Monday that his visit to London conspicuously did not include a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
He told The Times that Assad's visit here did not send "a good signal".
Netanyahu also criticised Blair's proposal made during Assad's visit last week to hold a conference of Palestinian leaders in London on ways to reform the Palestinian Authority.
Blair's intentions may have been honourable, Netanyahu went on, but it was impossible to achieve reform while Yasser Arafat was in charge.
He said that no dialogue was possible with the present Palestinian Authority.
Netanyahu repeated his opposition to the idea of a Palestinian state, claiming that "statehood implied full powers over ports, airspace water resources and military personnel".
"Israel could never agree that Palestinians should have such powers". He favoured autonomy and self government for the Palestinians but only if there was a commitment to live in peace with Israel. (end) he.bn KUNA 231642 Dec 02NNNN