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PM lays down conditions for peace in foreign policy address

Jun. 12, 2009
gil hoffman and jpost.com staff , THE JERUSALEM POST

Netanyahu speaks on Sunday night

 

In a much-anticipated foreign policy address Sunday night Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called for the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state alongside Israel, but only if the Palestinians recognize Israel's nature as a Jewish state.

Netanyahu said that he embraced President Barack Obama's vision, adding, however, that the Holocaust was not the reason for the establishment of the Jewish state.

The prime minister said that the descendants of the Palestinian refugees must not be resettled within Israel borders and that Jerusalem must remain united. Israel, he said, would not build any new settlements or expropriate new land for existing settlements.

"Peace has always been our objective," Netanyahu began. "Our prophets always envisioned peace; we bless each other with Shalom; our prayers end in peace."

"I support the idea of regional peace that is being led by Obama," Netanyahu said, adding that he was willing to meet any Arab leader anywhere.

"I turn to Arab leaders: Let's make peace, I am ready," Netahyahu said. "I am willing to go to Damascus, Riyadh, Beirut - to meet anytime and anywhere."

Netanyahu warned of the threat emanating from Iran, saying, "The biggest threat to Israel, and the middle east and all of humanity is the meeting between radical Islamism and nuclear weaponry."

Netanyahu called on the Palestinians to "begin peace talks immediately, and without preconditions."

Citing the "heavy toll" the ongoing conflict has taken and mentioning the death of his brother, Yonatan, Netanyahu said, "I don't want war. Nobody in Israel wants war."

"If the advantages of peace are so clear, we must ask - why is peace still far? What is perpetuating the conflict for over 60 years? We must reach the root of the struggle," he continued.

"Let me use the most simple words - the root of the struggle is the refusal to recognize Israel as the Jewish state. The initial Arab refusal was to a Jewish state in any location, before Israeli presence in the West Bank," the prime minister said.

"The closer we get to an agreement with the Palestinians, the further it is rejected," he continued. "We tried a withdrawal with an agreement, without one, a partial withdraw and we offered a near-complete withdraw. We uprooted Jewish settlers from their homes, and received a barrage of missiles in return."

"Sadly, even the Palestinian moderates won't say the most simple statement - Israel is the Jewish national state, and will remain as such.

"To achieve peace, courage and honesty are necessary from both sides. The Palestinians must say - 'enough with this conflict. We recognize Israel's right to exist, and want to live by their side.'

"A public Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish nation-state is a prerequisite for regional peace," Netanyahu said.

"In the heart of Israel there lives a large group of Palestinians," the prime minister continued, noting his will to see a demilitarized Palestinian state existing peacefully alongside Israel.

"For peace," he said, "we must ensure that Palestinians have no weapons and the opportunity to create pacts with hostile forces.

"We ask that the US commit that in the end-deal the Palestinian territory will be demilitarized. Without that, sooner or later, we will have another 'Hamastan.' And Israel can't agree to that."

"I told Obama that if we agree on the essence, the semantics won't matter," Netanyahu added.

"If we receive a commitment to Palestinian recognition of Israel as the Jewish state and a demilitarized Palestinian state, we can reach a final agreement."

Netanyahu continued to stress that Jerusalem would remain a united Jewish state.

"In the interim there is no intention to create new settlements or expand existing towns, while not preventing the natural needs of settlers, who are not enemies," he added.

"Palestinians must decide between the way of peace and the way of Hamas. Israel won't negotiate with a group that calls for Israel's destruction. Hamas won't even let the Red Cross visit our captive soldier Gilad Schalit," Netanyahu said.

This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com /servlet/Satellite?cid=1244371095741&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull

 

 

Kadima Pleased with Speech; Coalition MKs have Mixed Feelings

Sivan 22, 5769, 14 June 09 09:56

by Maayana Miskin

 

(IsraelNN.com) Members of Knesset from across the political spectrum reacted Sunday night to a speech by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu outlining his diplomatic goals. Netanyahu called for the creation of a "Palestinian state" beside Israel, but also insisted that the PA first recognize Israel as a Jewish state, which it has so far refused to do, and that it agree to disarm.

In addition, Netanyahu said Jerusalem would remain the undivided capital of Israel.

MKs from Likud were largely enthusiastic about the speech, but some criticized Netanyahu's use of the term “Palestinian state.” The Kadima party, on the other hand, praised the Prime Minister for stating for the first time that his goal is indeed a “Palestinian state,” but criticized his other positions.

Netanyahu speaks at Bar Ilan University. (Israel news photo: Flash 90).

MK Danny Danon of Likud said he and fellow Likud MKs would pressure Netanyahu to rescind his statements regarding an Arab state west of the Jordan River. “The Prime Minister said 'Palestinian state' – we'll try to get that part erased,” he said.

"The speech was brilliant, but Netanyahu gave in to American pressure,” he added. “The residents of Israel are not laboratory mice of the new American president,” he said. “Enough Israeli citizens have been killed because of unilateral concessions on our part... I will use all of my influence, among members of the faction and the coalition, to make sure the Prime Minister fails in his aim to create a Palestinian state.”

'The Arabs won't accept it'
Another Likud MK, Yariv Levin, said he supports efforts to reach peace – and therefore, will oppose Netanyahu's call for a PA state. The creation of a PA state would bring conflict, not peace, he said.

“There's no chance that the Arabs will accept the Prime Minister's terms, and therefore continued building is what will determine the future,” Levin explained, calling on the government to allow Jews to build in Judea and Samaria.

Responses from within the Kadima party were more positive. Kadima head Tzipi Livni called the speech “a step in the right direction,” but added that Kadima would wait to see Netanyahu's actions, and would not be impressed by words alone.

MK Otniel Schneller took a stronger stance, calling on his party to support Netanyahu. “The Prime Minister has recognized that Israel has an immediate interest in establishing a Palestinian state. Kadima has a responsibility to provide support,” he said. %ad%

Kadima “cannot act like an opposition party when it comes to this issue,” he warned. Schneller is a member of the Shaul Mofaz camp in Kadima, which favors joining Netanyahu's coalition.

Kadima MKs Magali Whbee and Zeev Boim were less enthusiastic than Schneller. Whbee called the speech “an improvement, but a very small one,” noting with satisfaction that Netanyahu used the phrase “Palestinian state,” but adding, that "he made sure to wrap them inside innumerable conditions that could make them unpracticable." Whbee called Netanyahu’s oration “the speech of two states and one thousand conditions.”

Boim accused Netanyahu of torpedoing negotiations with the PA by setting too many conditions, saying, “This is not how you move forward.”

Wallerstein watching Netanyahu speech (Israel news photo: Flash 90).

Nationalist Camp: PM Betrayed his Voters
Responses from the nationalist camp were largely negative. Netanyahu “betrayed the voters' will,” said MK Michael Ben-Ari of National Union. The Prime Minister's willingness to change his stance on a PA state “demonstrates that the Israeli elections are unnecessary – the decisions are made in Washington,” he said. He called the speech “a speech of surrender to the dictates of Obama.”

MK Zevulun Orlev of the Jewish Home party expressed disappointment as well. “Unfortunately, Netanyahu paid lip service to a Palestinian state, and in doing so, disappointed most coalition parties, particularly the Jewish Home,” he said.

“The Netanyahu speech requires a serious discussion in the coalition in order to ensure that the democratic decision in the polls will find its expression in the government’s national policy,” Orlev added.

Initial reactions to the speech among residents of Judea and Samaria were mixed. Pinchas Wallerstein, former Mayor of the Binyamin region, said he was diappointed with the fact that Netanyahu used the phrase “Palestinian state” but noted that he also spoke of “normal life” in the communities of Judea and Samaria.  “This means we will continue normal growth in the communities,” he told Voice of Israel radio, “without going overboard.”

PA: Bibi Sabotaging Talks
A spokesman for Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas accused Netanyahu of harming Israel-PA talks by insisting that Jerusalem remain the undivided capital of Israel and that millions of foreign Arabs claiming the right to live in Israel be settled elsewhere.

"Netanyahu's remarks have sabotaged all initiatives, paralysed all efforts being made and challenges the Palestinian, Arab and American positions," said spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah

The Palestinian Authority secretary, Yassir Abed Rabo, called Netanyahu's speech “worthless,” and insulted the Prime Minister personally, calling him “a fraud, a cheat and a liar.”

Senior PA negotiator Saeb Erikat said that “Netanyahu will have to wait a thousand years befire he finds a Palestinian who agrees to his suggestions. He has unilaterally eliminated all of the final status subjects like Jerusalem, refugees and security.”

“I turn to President Obama,” he said – “Netanyahu’s speech is a slap in the face to your speech.”

Gil Ronen contributed to this report.

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