Why is Netanyahu Still in Office?
Prof. Paul Eidelberg
On December 21, 2009, I gave my Monday report on Israel National Radio. The report cited the security provisions of the Wye River Memorandum which Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the PLO-Palestinians signed on October 23, 1998.
Like the Oslo or Israel-PLO Agreement of September 13, 1993, the Wye Memorandum was violated countless times by the PLO while Netanyahu held the office of Israel’s Prime Minister. These violations involve the murder and maiming of several thousand Jewish men, women, and children by PLO-Palestinian terrorists. Hence, I want to know why Mr. Netanyahu is still in office?
Let me mention only a few of the many security provisions of the Wye Memorandum which the Palestinians violated with impunity―violations about which Mr. Netanyahu failed to make any effective political or legal complaint. This failure of Prime Minister Netanyahu could not but have encouraged further Palestinian violations with lethal consequences to Jewish men, women, and children. Mr. Netanyahu seems to have disregarded―or failed to respond adequately to― the fact that:
● The Palestinian side had agreed to take all measures necessary in order to prevent acts of terrorism, crime and hostilities directed against Israel, just as the Israeli side had agreed to take all measures necessary in order to prevent acts of terrorism, crime and hostilities directed against the Palestinian side.
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● The two sides had also agreed to take legal measures against offenders within their jurisdiction and to prevent incitement against each other by any organizations, groups or individuals within their jurisdiction.
Regarding Terrorism: Let me remind Prime Minister Netanyahu that the Memorandum stipulated:
1. The Palestinian side will make known its policy of zero tolerance for terror and violence against both sides.
2. A work plan developed by the Palestinian side will be shared with the U.S. and thereafter implementation will begin immediately to ensure the systematic and effective combat of terrorist organizations and their infrastructure.
3. A U.S.-Palestinian committee will meet biweekly to review the steps being taken to eliminate terrorist cells and the support structure that plans, finances, supplies and abets terror. In these meetings, the Palestinian side will inform the U.S. fully of the actions it has taken to outlaw all organizations of a military, terrorist or violent character and their support structure and to prevent them from operating in areas under its jurisdiction.
Regarding Illegal Weapons: Let me remind the Prime Minister that the Memorandum stipulated:
1. The Palestinian side will ensure that an effective legal framework is in place to criminalize any importation, manufacturing or unlicensed sale, acquisition or possession of firearms, ammunition or weapons in areas under Palestinian jurisdiction.
2. The Palestinian side will implement a systematic program for the collection and appropriate handling of all such illegal items. The United States has agreed to assist in carrying out this program.
3. A U.S.-Palestinian-Israeli committee will be established to prevent the smuggling or other unauthorized introduction of weapons or explosive materials into areas under Palestinian jurisdiction.
Regarding Incitement: Let me remind the Prime Minister that the Memorandum stipulated:
1. The Palestinian side will issue a decree prohibiting all forms of incitement to violence or terror.
2. A U.S.- Palestinian-Israeli committee will meet on a regular basis to monitor cases of possible incitement to violence or terror and to make recommendations and reports on how to prevent such incitement.
If the reader juxtaposes the above security provisions of the Wye Memorandum and the countless Palestinian terror attacks on Israel and the ceaseless Palestinian acts of incitement that followed, it is abundantly clear that Mr. Netanyahu is guilty of gross negligence in the fulfillment of his official duties. That is why I want to know why he remains in office. That is why I wonder why members of his party have not called on him to resign from his office. That is why I wonder why any party or faction would want to be a member of any coalition of which Netanyahu is the leader? That is why I wonder why he has not been removed by a Knesset vote of no confidence? That is why I wonder whether Israel―if it is truly a democracy―has not relegated Mr. Netanyahu to the political wilderness.
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