Down to the nitty gritty:
I turn to you, our Palestinian neighbors, led by the Palestinian Authority, and I say:
Let’s begin negotiations immediately without preconditions. Israel is obligated by its international commitments and expects all parties to keep their commitments.
We want to live with you in peace, as good neighbors. We want our children and your children to never again experience war: that parents, brothers and sisters will never again know the agony of losing loved ones in battle; that our children will be able to dream of a better future and realize that dream; and that together we will invest our energies in plowshares and pruning hooks, not swords and spears.
I know the face of war. I have experienced battle. I lost close friends, I lost a brother. I have seen the pain of bereaved families. I do not want war. No one in Israel wants war.
If we join hands and work together for peace, there is no limit to the development and prosperity we can achieve for our two peoples – in the economy, agriculture, trade, tourism and education – most importantly, in providing our youth a better world in which to live, a life full of tranquility, creativity, opportunity and hope.
If the advantages of peace are so evident, we must ask ourselves why peace remains so remote, even as our hand remains outstretched to peace? Why has this conflict continued for more than sixty years?
In order to bring an end to the conflict, we must give an honest and forthright answer to the question: What is the root of the conflict?
In 1947, when the United Nations proposed the partition plan of a Jewish state and an Arab state, the entire Arab world rejected the resolution. The Jewish community, by contrast, welcomed it by dancing and rejoicing.
The Arabs rejected any Jewish state, in any borders.
Those who think that the continued enmity toward Israel is a product of our presence in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, is confusing cause and consequence.
The attacks against us began in the 1920s, escalated into a comprehensive attack in 1948 with the declaration of Israel’s independence, continued with the fedayeen attacks in the 1950s, and climaxed in 1967, on the eve of the six-day war, in an attempt to tighten a noose around the neck of the State of Israel.
All this occurred during the fifty years before a single Israeli soldier ever set foot in Judea and Samaria .
Fortunately, Egypt and Jordan left this circle of enmity. The signing of peace treaties have brought about an end to their claims against Israel, an end to the conflict. But to our regret, this is not the case with the Palestinians. The closer we get to an agreement with them, the further they retreat and raise demands that are inconsistent with a true desire to end the conflict.
I told President Obama when I was in Washington that if we could agree on the substance, then the terminology would not pose a problem.
And here is the substance that I now state clearly:
If we receive this guarantee regarding demilitirization and Israel’s security needs, and if the Palestinians recognize Israel as the State of the Jewish people, then we will be ready in a future peace agreement to reach a solution where a demilitarized Palestinian state exists alongside the Jewish state.
Regarding the remaining important issues that will be discussed as part of the final settlement, my positions are known: Israel needs defensible borders, and Jerusalem must remain the united capital of Israel with continued religious freedom for all faiths.
Full text of the speech:
Prime Minister’s Speech at the Begin-Sadat Center at Bar-Ilan University
Tags: Bibi Netanyahu, speech
…..and history repeats itself again.
muslims: Oh, yeah, ok…yeah, um…we want peace too. Yeah, we’ll umm, we’ll back off and umm, yeah we’ll just be friends. We have always wanted peace. Forget all the stuff we’ve done, the rockets into your towns, the homocide bombers, the fake photos and the manipulation of the world’s view….you guys have offered a hand in peace and ummm..yeah,….I think we’ll go ahead and take that. War’s over everbody!
/* hey, achmed, you better load up the rest of those mortars out of sight…destroy them? no, no…we’ll need those later. Like, next week.
This looks like a warning to the Palestinians and a shot across the bow.
Looks like Bibi is giving them one last chance. I look forward to similar words to Iran soon.
Hmmm….anyone posted on this yet?
Bill Clinton says that
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=566706
re: #2 by song_and_dance_man
Are you holding your breath?
re: #4 by BBEV
Nope. And I can’t imagine Israel waiting too much longer for Iran to carry through with their threats.
BTW, I work Sundays and that’s why I didn’t reply to your email.
gotta go shopping bbl
Instant view:
NABIL ABU RDAINAH, PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS’S SPOKESMAN:
SAEB EREKAT, SENIOR PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR:
re: #3 by Ma Sands
re: #3 by Ma Sands
Next thing you know ole Bubba will claim to be the first Muslim potus….oh, wait.
re: #7 by m
I don’t think those guys want peace, do you?
/
re: #5 by song_and_dance_man
No prob, ttyl
The fake outrage from the phakestinians is a bit over the top.The Obama has their back.
re: #7 by m
The Muslims really hate strong leaders who have had enough of their encroachment.
Is it wrong for me to think Bibi is a handsome man? I think that everytime I see him. I really hope he has a spine of steel.
Bibi kicks ass!
This is the argument I always put to opinionated pricks who know nothing about the situation:
“Would you want to give land in your garden to a bunch of gun wielding Hell’s Angels who want to kill you and don’t recognise your right to live in your house?
No.
So why would Israel give land to Palestinians who allow paramilitary cult groups that are armed to the teeth and hell bent on killing Israelis and destroying Israel?”
The answer usually runs to one of two options
1) “Jews stole the Palestinians land” – which is easily answered by pointing out that ‘Palestinians” fled the land and that 79% of ‘Palestine’ is already in Arab hands)
or 2) “The Palestinians need a resistance against Israeli aggression” – to which I normally explore what kind of resistance Hamas actually provide and point out that ‘Palestinian resistance’ is normally aimed squarely at civilians. I ask why Hamas need to resist nightclub goers or people eating pizza.
Ultimately Israel always wusses out of the “Jordan is your Palestine” argument, but there should not be a centimetre of Israeli held land given to the ‘Palestinians’ until their disband the terrorist groups and recognise Israel. The ball is in their court and well done to Bibi for stating it so clearly.