LEGISLATOR: INDEPENDENT PALESTINE MUST INCLUDE ALL STATE INSTRUMENTS

Jakarta, June 16 (ANTARA) - An independent Palestine must include all state instruments including military, a commission chairman in the House of Representatives (DPR), Theo Sambuaga, said here on Monday.

"Palestinian independence must be full to include state instruments including soldiers," the chairman of House Commission I which overseas foreign and defense affairs said when asked about Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent statement on requirements for Palestinian independence.

Theo said what was important now was supporting efforts to settle the Middle East problem peacefully based on a principle of Palestinian independence with full territorial integrity peacefully side by side with Israel.

"Palestinian independence without soldiers is not right and I do not agree with it," he said.

He said state independence must be full to include government, territory and military as one of the state instruments.

"Settle the problem through negotiations. Our principles are Palestinian independence with territorial integrity, termination of resettlement developments and peaceful coexistence," he said.

Commission I member Almuzzamil Yusup meanwhile said that if it had to meet the requirements Palestine would actually be not a state but a mere province of Israel.

Prime Minister Netanyahu in his speech on Monday presented requirements for the establishment of a Palestinian state. The requirements include prohibition for Palestine to have a military force, demand for Palestine to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, control over Jerusalem and its air territory put under Israel and allowing continuation of Jewish resettlements.