Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and several Cabinet ministers slammed US Secretary of State John Kerry for threatening Israel with boycotts in his efforts to finalize a peace deal between the Jewish State and the Palestinian Authority.
“Attempts to impose a boycott on the State of Israel are immoral and unjust,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Sunday morning at the opening of his weekly cabinet meeting, in reaction to what many consider fear-mongering on the part of US Secretary of State John Kerry.
“Moreover, they will not achieve their goal,” the Israeli leader continued. “First, they cause the Palestinians to adhere to their intransigent positions and thus push peace further away. Second, no pressure will cause me to concede the vital interests of the State of Israel, especially the security of Israel’s citizens. For both of these reasons, threats to boycott the State of Israel will not achieve their goal.”
Kerry, speaking Saturday at an international security conference in Munich, warned that Israel’s security would be “illusionary” and “momentary” should the US-led negotiations fail.
“The risks are very high for Israel,” Kerry stated. “People are talking about boycott. That will intensify in the case of failure.”
Until now, the Palestinian Authority has refused to recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. PA President Mahmoud Abbas has welcomed back as heroes Palestinian terrorists released from Israeli prisons as a goodwill gesture. The PA continues to promote anti-Semitism and profound Israel-hatred at public events, including cultural gatherings, and in the media.
“We respect Secretary of State Kerry but will not hold talks with a gun to our head,” Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon stated. “Friends don’t put ultimatums on the security of the state of Israel.”
“We will make decisions that guard the interests of the state of Israel,” Danon said. “If we made choices based on the various forecasts of boycotts, we wouldn’t be here today. In the past we saw that wherever the IDF was not present, terror takes root.”
“Let’s make clear to all those giving advice: A nation has not been born – including us – that will give up its land because of economic threats,” Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett asserted. “The Jewish people is stronger than the threats against it.”
Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz said that Kerry’s message was “offensive and unacceptable” and that such declarations would cause Israel to take the blame if negotiations fail.
Kerry has been working frantically in order to conclude an agreement between Israel and the PA.
In November, as reported in media worldwide, Kerry warned Israel that a “third Intifada” could break out if a deal isn’t achieved.
On Thursday evening, hundreds gathered at the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem for a massive prayer rally against “Kerry’s Decrees,” according to Israel National News.
Titled “Prayer for the Redemption of the People of Israel and their Portion,” leading Zionist rabbis led the service, beseeching God to “give strength, courage, truth and faith to our leaders,” INN reported.
Author: Atara Beck, Staff Writer, UWI
Date: Feb. 2, 2014
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