ISRAEL: PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU PRESS CONFERENCE

(26 Mar 1997) English/Nat Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the Palestinian Authority to stop giving its tacit support to acts of terrorism. Netanyahu was speaking in Jerusalem Wednesday at an international conference on fighting terrorism. His comments followed several days of clashes on the West Bank. Inevitably the conference on fighting worldwide terrorism was hijacked by the current Mideast peace crisis. And Benjamin Netanyahu had some tough words for the Palestinian Authority in the wake of recent clashes. He contrasted the experience of a secure Jordan, with that of the West Bank - where the peace process is in tatters. The difference, he said, was that in Jordan the state does not back acts of terror. SOUNDBITE: (English) "From Jordan we have scant terrorism because there is no state support. From the Palestinian Authority, from their domain, from their areas, we can have a lot of terrorism or no terrorism depending on their policy. They've clearly showed a capacity - the physical and political ability - to control this terrorism or to stop it if they so choose. But they have chosen in recent days to use terrorism as a weapon of negotiation, as a weapon of coercion, as a weapon of violent manipulation for political ends. And that is something we cannot accept because peace and terrorism are incompatible." SUPER CAPTION: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu called on the Palestinian Authority to increase its efforts to fight terrorism. That, he said, was the only way the peace process could be saved. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Our expectation of the Palestinian Authority is to assume the responsibility of responsible entities. Anyone who wants to enter the community of civilised nations has to fight terrorism. Anyone who wants to be accorded respect and legitimacy must fight terrorism. And we expect and we would like to see the Palestinian Authority fight terrorism. That is the first order of the day if we are going to salvage the peace process and move back on the track towards peace." SUPER CAPTION: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister The Israeli Prime Minister showed no sign of backing down over the controversial Jewish housing project in East Jerusalem which sparked the current uprising. Netanyahu has said building in the area is not the root of the problem - merely an excuse to spill blood. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...