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There was nothing in Netanyahu's speech about the fact that Israel illegally occupies the west bank, illegally blockades Gaza, and subjects the Palestinians to countless violations of their basic human rights. The entire speech was one long accusation against the Palestinians. For Netanyahu the Palestinians are the sole cause of the conflict, and only they must change their ways if peace is to be achieved.
Here are the most crucial words about the Palestinians from Netanyahu's speech as reported by the Jerusalem Post:
Netanyahu called on the Palestinians to "begin peace talks immediately, and with no preconditions."
The prime minister continued to speak of the heavy toll the ongoing conflict has taken, mentioning his being a bereaved brother.
"I don't want war. Nobody in Israel wants war," he said to applause.
"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," Netanyahu ascertained.
"Let me use the most simple words - the root of the struggle is the refusal to recognize the Israel as the Jewish state. The initial Arab refusal was to a Jewish state in any location, before Israeli presence in the West Bank," continued Netanyahu.
"The closer we get to an agreement with the Palestinians, the further it is rejected. We tried a withdraw with an agreement, without one, a partial withdraw and offered a near-complete withdraw. We uprooted Jewish settlers from their homes, and got a barrage of missiles in return," he said of the Gaza pullout.
"Sadly, even the Palestinian moderates won't say the most simple statement - Israel is the Jewish national state, and will remain such.
"To achieve peace, courage and honesty are needed 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 precondition for regional peace," Netanyahu said.
So according to Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's building of a wall deep into Palestinian territory that segregates Palestinian families from each other, Israel's blockade of Gaza which keeps the people of Gaza in abject poverty, Israel's illegal occupation of lands that are not their's, Israel's brutal beatings, military slaughters, imprisonments, and home demolitions ... none of this has anything to do with the conflict!
Netanyahu's speech would have us believe that the entire conflict is the result of the fact that Muslims hate Jews, that Palestinians simply harbor an irrational hatred of Israel. Israel, according to Netanyahu is all light and has never done anything wrong. The settlements, the beatings, the check points (over 700), the brutality, all of that is fine - the real problem is Palestinian hatred of Jews ... is Netanyahu now going to attempt to sell us ocean front property in Arizona?!
Mr. Netanyahu, you forget that your country took their land! You occupy illegally and immorally! It is your country Mr. Prime Minister that is the root of the problem! Occupation, not antisemitism is the cause of this conflict. Mr. Prime Minister you tell lies!
Finally note the audacity of Netanyahu's speech. He demands that the Palestinians enter peace talks with no pre-conditions. This means they cannot ask Israel for any thing, but the Palestinians to be admitted to the table must give in to countless Israeli demands. This is outrageous! That the Prime Minister can say this and then sleep at night baffles the rational mind.
Basically Netanyahu has put so much demand on the Palestinians that they cannot negotiate, he has refused to recognize the crimes and misdeeds of his nation, he has precluded any real talk for peace. This man and his government are a true danger to peace and they must face MASSIVE international scolding for this attitude. The United States must pressure the Prime Minister to stop his hateful madness.
This speech and the man who gave it are among the world's greatest obstacles to peace.
Posted June 14th, 2009 by mattwion
