Britannia Radio

Sunday, November 23, 2008 Yaalon: Arab Israelis consider all Jewish Israelis settlers Former IDF chief, in first appearance since joining Likud, slams documents by Arab Israelis that 'reject our right to independent Jewish state,' claims Livni 'has withstood no test of leadership Amnon Meranda YNET Published: 11.22.08, 22:10 / Israel News www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3626935,00.html   Arab Israelis consider all Jewish Israelis settlers, "in Tel Aviv, in Holon, all of us," said former IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon Saturday, in his first political conference since announcing his intention to join the Likud party last week. Yaalon asserted that "Israeli Arabs, with four documents that they wrote over the past two years, are actually rejecting our right to an independent Jewish state. We are settlers, as far as they are concerned." However, he continued, "we have the power to deal with this phenomenon. Both military and economic power." Yaalon also stated that current peace initiatives are weakening Israel's immunity from attack. "There are arguments about a solution, but we haven't even agreed on how to define the problem," the former general said. "That is why arguing about solutions is the same as arguing about delusions. In fact, a particular solution is being forced on us. We want peace now, food now, everything now, as if this is fast food and fast peace, and along the way we have lost much of our spirit, our power and our deterrence," he told the crowd. Finally, he attacked Foreign Minister and Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni. "I see signs in the street selling spin, trying to defraud us again, with some sort of depiction that I see as lacking any essence," he said of campaign ads reading 'Livni: What's good for the State.' "I see signs of someone chosen to lead Kadima. When did she actually withstand a test of leadership? She didn't do so during the Second Lebanon War, not during the actual decision-making process and not as regards UN Security Council Resolution 1701," he said.