Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave what many determined was a “counter speech” to the Muslim love-fest held by Barak Obama.
Some noteworthy excerpts from Netanyahu’s speech are as follows:
- Called on Arab states to come together and contribute to the economic success of the Palestinians.
- Stated the the root of the conflict is the refusal of Muslim and Arab nations to recognize the right of the Jewish people to have a state of their own.
- Ran down a list of attacks which have been committed against Israel, directly contributing to the situation at hand.
- Described how every Israeli withdraw from territories was met with war, and every dismantled settlement met with missile attacks.
- Withdrawls have not “lessened the hatred.”
- He stated simply: “…a fundamental prerequisite for ending the conflict is a public, binding and unequivocal Palestinian recognition of Israel as a nation state of the Jewish people.”
- Continuing on unambiguously: “If we receive this guarantee regarding demilitarization and Israelis security needs, and if the Palestinians recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people, then we will be ready to reach a solution where a demilitarized Palestinian state exists along side the Jewish state.”
- “My positions are known. Israel needs defensible borders, and Jerusalem must remain the united capitol of Israel with continued religious freedom for all.”
- Regarding the settlement issue, he reiterated: “We have no intention of building new settlements, or of expropriating additional land for existing settlements.”
- “But there is a need to enable the residents to live normal lives, to allow mothers and fathers to raise their children like families elsewhere. The settlers are neither the enemies of the people or the enemies of peace.”
- “Above all else,” he said “the Palestinians must decide between the path of peace and the path of Hamas.”
A sober assessment from a leader who has not the time nor luxury to pander to outside influences.
