The Palestinians and the Israeli elections

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel rejects the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state that can own missiles, artillery and tanks and seal military pacts with Iran and Iraq.

In a press conference he held in Jerusalem, Netanyahu added that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has clearly indicated that the Palestinians prefer the leader of the Israeli Labor Party, Ehud Barak, as prime minister because Barak has actually approved the idea of the Palestinian state.

He said the Syrians also prefer Barak because they know that with him, "They will restore back the whole of the Golan Heights."

Netanyahu has once again introduced himself as "the guarantee for Israel's security." He stressed that his opponent in the elections, Barak, will offer a lot of concessions to the Palestinians and the Syrians in the peace negotiations.