Israeli PM Netanyahu defends conditions on Palestinian state

"Just as they expect us to recognize a Palestinian state, they have to recognize a Jewish state. And of course a Palestinian state cannot threaten a Jewish state, that’s why I said it should be demilitarized," Netanyahu said in an interview on NBC News.

Netanyahu’s comments came a day after he delivered a speech in which he accepted for the first time the creation of a Palestinian state but with conditions that Palestinians said would hobble efforts to salvage the peace process.

The White House said Netanyahu’s position was "an important step forward," but Egypt and Syria criticized the Israeli leaders stand as derailing peace efforts.

Netanyahu defended his demand that a Palestinian state have no control over its airspace, no right to make military pacts, and provide Israel with iron-clad security guarantees.

"Palestinians ought to recognize a Jewish state and Israel has a right to expect this state next to them, a Palestinian state, to be a demilitarized one. I think these are things that can lay the groundwork for a future peace," he told NBC.

"My vision has the Palestinians and Israelis living side by side as free people, in amity not in enmity," he said.

"But as far as the security of Israel is concerned, this is not a theoretical exercise," he said, pointing to the surge in rocket attacks from Gaza after Israel withdrew from the Hamas-ruled enclave.

"We’ve received 7,000 rockets since we got out of Gaza. We cant have rockets on Tel Aviv, which makes life unbearable," he said.

He said Israelis insist, "of course, it should be demilitarized, of course they shouldn’t be able to put in rockets and missiles to fire at our cities. Of course, that’s a requirement for peace," he said.

Asked about his refusal to halt all settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, which US President Barack Obama has pushed for, Netanyahu evaded the question, stressing instead his pledge not to authorize new settlements.

"I think President Obama and I are trying to reach a common understanding on this," he said.