Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel’s policies, which are dictated by reality, and refuted misguided statements made by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom.
Prime Minister Benjamin rebuffed an attack by US Secretary of State John Kerry on Israeli policies regarding the peace process, saying that while Israel sought peace, it had no partner.
“I would like to make it clear – Israel will not be a bi-national state,” said Netanyahu during the weekly Cabinet meeting, responding to a warning by Kerry that Israel was on its way to losing its Jewish and democratic identity because of the stalwart peace process.
“But in order for there to be peace, the other side needs to decide that it also wants peace,” the premier clarified. “To my regret, this is not what we see. First of all, the Palestinian Authority incitement is continuing – it must stop. And I see the senior Palestinian official in charge of the negotiations going to console the family of a terrorist who tried to murder Jews. Not only does he not condemn it, he goes to offer condolences and thereby gives backing and encouragement to acts of terrorism.”
Netanyahu was referring to chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat who over the weekend visited the home of a Palestinian terrorist who was shot while committing a terror attack on Thursday.
Likewise, incitement by the Palestinian leadership has generated a wave of terror attacks, which has claimed the lives of 21 victims and wounded scores in the past two and a half months.
“Whoever wants peace needs to condemn these things unequivocally, just as I am doing here,” Netanyahu demanded.
He also condemned the Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom’s “scandalous remarks” after she accused Israel of “extrajudicial executions” of supposedly innocent Palestinians, who were in fact terrorists killed while committing terror attacks.
“Apparently she expects Israelis to offer their necks to whoever wants to stab them. This will not happen and we will continue to defend the lives of Israel’s citizens,” he retorted.
Kerry delivered a harsh speech on Saturday in which he warned Israel about the dangers of the possible collapse of the Palestinian Authority (PA), saying it would lead to a situation that would threaten the security of Israel and the Palestinian people.
“The one-state solution is no solution at all for a secure, Jewish, democratic Israel living in peace, it is simply not a viable option,” Kerry said.
By: Max Gelber, United with Israel