Jerusalem – PM Lays Down Conditions For Peace in Foreign Policy Address [video]

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    Jerusalem – “I support the idea of regional peace that is being led by Obama,” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Sunday in his long-anticipated foreign policy address at Bar-Ilan University.

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

    The prime minister said 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 also 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, mentioning the death of his brother, Yonatan, and saying, “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,” Netanyahu 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 withdraw with an agreement, without one, a partial withdraw and 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 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 precondition 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 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 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.

    “There is no intention in the meanwhile to create new settlements or expand existent towns, while not preventing the natural needs of settlers, who are not enemies,” he said of the settlements.

    “Palestinians must decree between the way of peace and that 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 added.


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    143 Comments
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    Milhouse
    Milhouse
    14 years ago

    “There is no intention in the meanwhile to create new settlements or expand existent towns, while not preventing the natural needs of settlers, who are not enemies,” he said.

    And with that he betrayed everything else he said. If he meant the rest of it, then he wouldn’t have said this. He can speak all he likes of the spirit of zionism, but what kind of zionism is it that declares areas of EY judenrein?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Liked the speech, he said two state solution if demilitarized and israel is recognized…basically, its not happening, and we will retain yerushalayim:)

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    God help us !!!!!!!!!!

    Litvak
    Litvak
    14 years ago

    The sooner we Yidden realize that Eretz Yisroel was given to us by Hakadosh Baruch Hu and NOT by the UN, and NOT as reperations for WWII, then it will be easier for us to convince the world that we are there to stay.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Unfortunately his end will come if he continues down this way.
    See the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Sichos for more details….

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I was waiting for him to say Gd gave it to us

    deepthinker
    deepthinker
    14 years ago

    Fine words, noble thoughts, but he’s dealing with snakes. Nothing will help!

    Drishas Shalom U'Brucha
    Drishas Shalom U'Brucha
    14 years ago

    Always remember one thing:
    HKBH Yivarech es Amo B’Shalom !!!

    HKBH commanded Aharon HaKohen :
    Yivarech es Am Yisrael B’Shalom !!!

    Shalom, Shalom, Shalom !!!
    Amen !!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    for everyone who wants a united yerushalayim that means you are going to accept and grant citizenship to the 250,000+ east jerusalem arabs as citizens who hate us and want to kill us. also bear in mind that they have one of the highest growth rates in the world and double every 20 years or so.;

    Michali
    Michali
    14 years ago

    I agree with #5 . Netanyahu has a very difficult political job to be able to pull this off, between the Americans, Israelis and Arabs. And everyone needs to save face. so Bibi made the best offer that he could. He is not going to say get lost this our land from HBH , so this is the best he could have done. Now we will see what the lying Arabs and Obamaites will say. This is probably a well calculated stall tactic par excellance that the Israelis always do.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    When is he going to learn? How many more times will he have to run for office in order to get it right? Will it be in this lifetime, or will he have to come down again?

    GOOD JOB
    GOOD JOB
    14 years ago

    very good speech
    IF ONLY HE WOULD DO WHAT HE SAYS WILL BE GOOD!

    kivi
    kivi
    14 years ago

    I once thought that natanyahu was good only for speeches and that he was an excellent speaker now I see that even that he is no good at.

    NJ Shmuel
    NJ Shmuel
    14 years ago

    What a great delivery. Bibi gave Barry exactly what he wanted to hear. Yes Oh great Barry, we want a two state solution also. It’s just that we want to be secure. Barry, I’m sure that you understand that. So when your Muslim brothers are ready to deal with us as equal partners, we will all have peace.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Long live bibi

    Rippin Pinchas
    Rippin Pinchas
    14 years ago

    “The prime minister said that he was willing to meet any Arab leader anywhere.”

    Yes, I do recall his warm handshake with Arafat.

    “Sadly, even the Palestinian moderates won’t say the most simple statement – Israel is the Jewish national state, and will remain such. “

    What is a “Palestinian moderate” and where does he live? I guess if Obama wants Bibi to say that then Bibi will.

    “The Palestinians must say – ‘enough with this conflict. We recognize Israel’s right to exist, and want to live by their side.”

    The Palestinians thrive off of conflict. They cannot say enough. You are delusional, Mr PM (actually, Mr. pawn in the hands of the Americans).

    “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.”

    You already have one. What is sooner or later? Have you ever heard of the Gaza Strip? Not only did Israel agree, Israel did all the dirty work in creating it.

    What is this talk about demalitirization? Rabins government, followed by yours, gave them the guns. Now the Americans supply them with guns.

    Bibi, when you become the leader of an independent country, let me know.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    i am shocked by this speech.he started out talking how israel needs to protect itself from enemies and then say the dreaded 2 state policy will go ahead.what a let down from bibi – and there i was thinking he would be “different”.Israel has no hope now

    ZR
    ZR
    14 years ago

    “Rav Shach z”l was against moving to any areas that would be dangerous or would cause the nations to be angry with Israel. Areas that are needed for security need to be kept.”

    I am confused.

    “areas needed for seurity” are overwhelmingly the SAME areas as those 1) that are relatively dangerous and 2) “cause the nations to be angry with Israel”.

    Please clarify what you call “most of the Gedolei Torah’s daas torah.”

    NB
    NB
    14 years ago

    The Charedi world generally did not accept the idea that Israel is Reshit Tzemichat Geuliteinu. When did that change?
    Why are charedim suddenly talking about “every inch of land…”?

    The bottom line is…moshiach has not yet come..and we must be a part of family of nations and we cannot just hold on to land..even though we know that it is rightfully ours..
    No matter how you spin it.. There is an occupation going on.
    There are millions of people that we are governing..that have no equal rights.
    So while all of you might keep your heads in the sand..eventually you’ll choke on the sand.
    Every Israeli leader..has somehow come to the same realization…

    Do you need Kahane himself to come back from the grave and give back Jerusalem for you to finally realize that it just isnt the right time yet…
    Moshiach has not yet come..and we have a tough reality to contend with…

    Advocate
    Advocate
    14 years ago

    I’m an advocate for Milhouse. He is one of the most levelheaded bloggers. Keep it up Milhouse for keeping facts as facts and assumptions as assumptions.

    Just one question – what does Milhouse mean?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I ain’t no Lubab, but when all is said and one, only their leader will go down in history as having been right on how to deal with the Arabs and world in general. And perhaps Kahane as well.

    End of Days
    End of Days
    14 years ago

    The stage is set.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    How can people here say lashon hara about Rav Shach and the Lubavitcher Rebbe? Even though they did not share the same opinion about Eretz Yisrael (and both based their views on Torah), it is not a reason to publicly speak against these two gedolim. The people who posted these should post apoligize online and at the graves. The Bais Hamikdosh was destroyed because of sinas chinom and whether or not land is given away, attitudes like this will not bring the geula, which is the only true peace we want and need.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    The LR speaks for himself. R pinchus hirshprung ZTL knew that the Rebbe was a gaon, and attended the fabrengens, even though he was litvish…can’t say he did the same for the other side, who just spewed machloikes

    moish
    moish
    14 years ago

    Now milhouse has been exposed, he is a lubavitcher with a blinding irrational hatred of Maran Harav Shach zt’l the only leader brave enough to stand up against somebody whose followers made him a false messiah and claimed that he is elohus on this world r”l. there is no use trying to debate with him on this point. Chazor becho, before it’s too late, Hashem is mekane for the kovod of talmidei chachomi, take 10 people and go ask mechila by his kever, quick. [wolpe made ash and parcohes of avi ezri, what a joke! Apparently he believes the l.rebbe is moshiach which goes to show how sane and how close to judaism he is]

    tzoorba
    tzoorba
    14 years ago

    I was asking a kashya in the lomdus of the explanation as Litvaks do. The minhag is an established practice of a significant part of clal Yisroel.

    Chassidim and non Chassidim also differ about eating in the Succah on Shmini Atzeres. There is a kashya related to yesuvi yasvinan ubruchi lo mevarchinan.

    Each olam keeps their own minhagim and there are a number of hanhagos that are difficult on both sides. The heter of chodosh bechuts laaretz is based on a difficult sfek sfaika (which the Brisker Rov explains).

    In terms of current machlokes, I don’t want to extend it any further other than to say that the meshichist and elokist approach has driven a wedge between Lubavitch and the Yeshivishe world. If anything, these new movements are merachek Moshiach.

    Demeaning a Gadol Hador like Rav Shach z”l doesn’t lead to peace.

    The LR was a Gaon Olam as is evidenced by his sichos and his Rashi shiurim among others. He was praised and honored by Rabbi Avigdor Miller z”l among others.

    We all have to work towards unity and seeking the truth despite our differences.

    tzoorba
    tzoorba
    14 years ago

    Saying someone is not as great as Rav Moshe, for example, is actually a big compliment. If you can compare someone to him, that means he is in his league.

    Similarly, in my opinion (I know that it’s not Lubavitch’s opinion) saying someone is not as great as Rav Shach is actually a significant compliment from a Yeshivish point of view.