Netanyahu: Binational state bad for Israel

JERUSALEM, March 4 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, expected to offer a plan to re-start peace talks, said a single-nation solution would be "disastrous" for Israel.

Netanyahu, under fire internationally over the stalled talks and Israel's policies, told ministers he would present a plan to remove the threat of a binational state, in which Palestinians and Israelis would live in one state and have equal rights, Haaretz reported Friday.

"(A) binational state would be disastrous for Israel," Netanyahu said.

Aides within the prime minister's office told Haaretz Netanyahu has been talking with Washington in recent weeks about developing a program to restart the peace process.

"The prime minister has realized that the political impasse is not working in favor of Israel," an adviser said. "Following a few weeks of revolution in the Arab world, he is convinced that there are opportunities, not just threats, and that it is important to take advantage of the situation that was created in order to restart the peace process and put an end to the unilateral initiatives of the Palestinians."

In private, Netanyahu reportedly has begun discussing the growing threat of a binational state, Haaretz said.

"This trend will intensify and become stronger," Netanyahu reportedly told his advisers. "However, there are those in Israel who think that one state is a good idea. I think it is a disaster."