Israel's president says country ready for Palestinian state...

... and I am the Shah of Switzerland! Israel's president means "c'mon Arabs be our ally against Iran and we loan you a Pal State which we shall ultimately get back after the war b'cause Hamas terrorists are raining hosepipes on our cities again"

Israel is ready to negotiate the terms of Palestinian statehood, although it wants its security concerns addressed in the initial stages of indirect talks, the Israeli president said Friday after meeting with the U.S. Mideast envoy.

George Mitchell, who is President Barack Obama's special representative for Mideast peace, is in the region for the start of four months of indirect talks between the Israelis and Palestinians that aim to bridge vast differences between the sides on the contours of a future Palestinian state.

The Palestinians want the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem — territories Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast War — for their state, but have said they are willing to make some minor land exchanges.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a reluctant latecomer to the idea of Palestinian statehood, has said he won't give up east Jerusalem and has posed strict security conditions, including a continued Israeli presence in some areas of the West Bank.

Israeli President Shimon Peres, who fills a largely ceremonial role, said the Jewish state is ready to negotiate.

"Israel seeks a historic peace agreement with the Palestinians that will result in the founding of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel," Peres said after meeting with Mitchell.

Peres said resolving security concerns, such as rocket fire from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, are of the utmost importance to Israel. Rocket attacks from Gaza have almost ceased since Israel's military offensive in the territory more than a year ago. A small number of rockets have been fired, although splinter groups and not Hamas itself are believed to be behind the attacks.

http://www.startribune.com/world/93081904.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBcy7hUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

State to High Court: We'll authorize illegal West Bank outpost