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Netanyahu Major Policy Speech
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by albertacowpoke | June 14, 2009 at 09:44 am
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Prime Minister Netanyahu made a major policy speech Sunday afternoon in Jerusalem. In it he said that he shared President Obama's view for peace. He called for immediate peace talks with the Palestinians.
He also called Iran the biggest threat to Israel referring to the vote yesterday.
He went through some history going back to 1947 and appealed to Arabs to join him in his quest for peace.
He also said that there are those that would claim the State of Israel existed because of the Holocaust. He said I would say the Holocaust was caused by not establishing Israel early enough.
He emphasized that three points that needed serious attention were Iran, Economics and Peace.
He made an appeal to the Palestinians to join in peace. The first step he said was to recognize the existance of Israel as the State of the Jewish people.
He said that Isreael did not want to rule Palestinians but wanted two separate flags. He also said he wanted the the Palestinian refugee problem resolved outside of Israel's borders.
Of note is that he made no reference to settlements, not even a pause. This would signify that he is still at odds on this issue with the Obama Administration.
Here are text Highlights from Netanyahu's speech
Netanyahu speech 'an important step forward': White House
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech endorsing the creation of a Palestinian state was "an important step forward," the White House said Sunday.
President Barack Obama "welcomes the important step forward in Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
In the speech, Netanyahu endorsed for the first time the creation of a Palestinian state, provided it was demilitarized, after weeks of pressure from Washington.
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[q url="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090614/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians"]
JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday called on Palestinian leaders to restart peace negotiations without preconditions.
Netanyahu made the call during a major policy speech about his Mideast peacemaking intentions.
He also said the Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and he declared that the solution of the Palestinian refugee problem must be "outside Israel."
"I call on you, our Palestinian neighbors, and to the leadership of the Palestinian Authority: Let us begin peace negotiations immediately, without preconditions," he said. "Israel is committed to international agreements and expects all the other parties to fulfill their obligations as well."
Netanyahu also called for Arab leaders to meet him and contribute to Palestinian economic development.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (27)
at 10:17 on June 14th, 2009
Actually he did mention the "settlers" and their desire for peace. Problem is what is the "settlements". Carter is in Israel currently and to the shock of the international press said that the Gush Etzion bloc of settlements near Jerusalem will remain a part of Israel.
Bibi is currently working to dislodge all the outposts not authorized by the government. I think he stated very clearly that the issues that will clarify an agreement have some preconditions on the Palestinian side. Once they publicly declare that Israel is a State of the Jewish people then that ends any fantasizing of a Palestinian State that includes all of Israel. Up until this moment this has not been the case.
Three points that need serious attention according to the PM: Iran, Economics and Peace.
The history of the conflict simply put was well presented and to the point.
at 01:02 on June 15th, 2009
In previous threads you describe Israel as a secular state but now you describe it as a the state of the Jewish people. Why would a secular state refuse to take back refugees based on religion ?
at 02:34 on August 23rd, 2009
Fine, I loved the hebrew articles about the issue...
at 10:21 on June 14th, 2009
Yes I agree with you tikun. Unfortunately the speech was cut off by North American media before it ended. So my reference to Settlements or Settlers was what I heard from pundits. FOX news carried part, when they cut it off I switched to CNN which had nothing and then switched to CBC newsworld that carried it a little longer.. Thanks for your comments and clarification.
at 12:22 on June 14th, 2009
Source: msnbc.msn.com
at 14:44 on June 14th, 2009
That is all the Palestinians ever do. Reject, reject, and reject. hmmm am I missing something here?
at 14:48 on June 14th, 2009
Thank you tikun. Netanyahu made an offer, now the discussion is on. It all depends now on how the Obama Administration reacts to this.
at 17:55 on June 14th, 2009
oppression
at 14:46 on June 14th, 2009
Thank you for this senthil.
at 09:41 on June 15th, 2009
It gives little hope that tamil eelam state is also a possible reality
at 14:49 on June 14th, 2009
Thank you for this anobserver.
at 13:23 on June 14th, 2009
it is not a perfect offrer and will need changes but it is a start
at 14:48 on June 14th, 2009
Thank you for your comments 158
at 17:36 on June 14th, 2009
Any offer that would make sense and have a chance to be accepted would need to include at least a neutral Jerusalem, a third state, neither Israeli nor Palestinian. A free City, both can compromise for that in the long run.
Israel is making an offer that is half-hearted and can not possibly find acceptance and it know so. This way one can say we made a offer and they refused it. A childish blaming game.
It is like running a day care with armed kids.
at 00:06 on June 16th, 2009
Paschen,
This is where you do not get it. This isn't half-hearted. This is with a full heart. This is a real honest offer. Half-hearted would be to lie like our "partners" in peace that constantly spin.
A child response is what we got. But then again anything the PM would have said wouldn't have been enough for the Palestinian leadership. That is childish.
at 17:40 on June 14th, 2009
Your comments do make sense, but there also has to be a positive step towards negotiations. Washington now has a role to pay. I think you saw their comments.
at 01:07 on June 15th, 2009
Tikun, is Israel a secular state or a state of the Jewish people ? I am confused, in one thread you say secular and in your comments here you say that Israel is the state of the Jewish people ! Would a secular state be responsible for refugees of any religion ?
at 03:21 on June 15th, 2009
Sputnic thank you for your comments
at 00:11 on June 16th, 2009
Sputnic,
Israel is a Jewish State and the majority of the people are secular. But secular does not mean abandoning tradition. This is not a black nor white issue. But I guess you just got to live here to appreciate the nuance. I will give you a shocker..In Judaism you do not have to believe in a GOD to be Jewish. There is so much in Judaism that it would take more time then I have to share some of this remarkable complexity that makes up the Jewish State and its people.
at 00:36 on June 16th, 2009
Thank you for this tikun.
at 02:02 on June 16th, 2009
Wow ! Do you believe in the creator or not ? And we were talking about a secular state not a secular people ! Israel is a secular state, which means not allied to any particular religion.
at 09:38 on June 16th, 2009
Israel is the State of the Jewish people. One and the same. Let us be very clear. We do not see any conflict or difference in some people living a "secular" life style or a religious one. Again, they are intertwined in this society. We are a multi-cultural society living lives as Israelis in the State of the Jewish people. Not for everyone nor for every Jew. But certainly an amazing place that has lived on through the thousands of years of our heritage. I hope this helps. my 2cents.
at 12:59 on June 16th, 2009
Well.. You have definitly described Israel as a secular state before USA is a secular state and welcomes all religions. Are you a religious man Tikun ?
at 01:14 on June 17th, 2009
We welcome all people living here regardless of their religion. Not sure what you mean by the term "religious"?
at 02:24 on June 17th, 2009
how come Palestinian refugees are not allowed to return then ? For definitions on the meaning of the word religious see A DICTIONARY
at 11:11 on June 17th, 2009
I know the meaning(s) of religious. What I want to know is yours. You also know that if the Palestinians return to Israel there will no longer be any Israel as a Jewish State. That is the point of the push. Everyone knows this will not happen including the PA. In fact, swap the million or so Jews thrown out of Arab and Muslim lands for the Palestinians that either left out of fear or were told to leave.
at 11:55 on June 17th, 2009
Who did the throwing out first Tikun ? Not saying what happened in Iran was right though ! Are you religious (what is your precise religion ) ? It is a simple enough question