Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu says he believes in the Palestinians' right to self governance, The Washington Post has reported.

In his first interview with the foreign media since he was chosen to head Israel's next government, the Likud chair told The Washington Post: "I think there is broad agreement inside Israel and outside that the Palestinians should have the ability to govern their lives but not to threaten ours."

Netanyahu further said he would continue peace talks with the Palestinians, while at the same time advancing "the economic development that has begun" in the Palestinian Authority.
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The Likud chair added: "I personally intend to take charge of a government committee that will regularly address the needs of the Palestinian economy in the West Bank."

Asked about Israel's achievements in its three-week offensive in the Gaza Strip and whether he thought that Hamas should be toppled, Netanyahu said only that "Hamas is incompatible with peace."

"I hope that the Palestinians in Gaza find the ability to change this regime because we want to have peace with all the Palestinians. Right now, what we should do is enable humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza but not in such a way as it enables Hamas to buy more rockets."

During his interview, Netanyahu referred to recent reports about future dialogue between Israel and Syria, saying "Syria so far has been talking peace but has enabled Hezbollah to arm itself in contravention of UN Security Council resolutions."

"I would talk to Syria about abandoning these courses of action and building confidence that they really want to move toward peace. So far they're not giving that impression," he said.

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* http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1067520.htm