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World Jewish News
PM speech draws fire from Right, Left
14.06.2009
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was chided from both sides of the political spectrum on Sunday night, following his foreign policy address at Bar Ilan University.
The criticism was not only exclusive to parties outside the government, with the Habayit Hayehudi party saying that it would "reconsider its future" in the coalition following "the dangerous ramifications of Netanyahu's speech."
Even from within the Likud, party leader was chastised by MK Danny Danon.
"Unfortunately, the prime minister succumbed to [US President Barack] Obama's pressure. Israeli citizens are not the new American president's guinea pigs. Enough Israeli citizens have been killed because of our unilateral concessions," Danon said in a statement.
"I will act with all my force among the party members and the coalition to thwart the premier's intention to establish a Palestinian state," he added.
National Union MK Arye Eldad was especially harsh in his criticism.
"Today Netanyahu has lost the leadership of the national camp, when he crossed not only the red lines of his elections promises, but also converted," Eldad said.
"In saying 'a demilitarized Palestinian state' Netanyahu is trying to eat a pig that has been slaughtered according to Jewish dietary laws. There is no such thing as a Palestinian state. Netanyahu knows that no political force can keep it from arming, forging pacts or acting like any recognized state," he added.
Almagor (Terror Victims Association) head Meir Indor called the speech a victory to Palestinian terror.
"Tonight, Netanyahu established the Palestinian state. As in the past, nobody will remember the preconditions, and all that will remain is the call to establish a Palestinian state with all the dangers," he said in a statement.
"All previous Likud warnings of such an entity have disappeared tonight following the recent pressure applied to Netanyahu," the statement continued.
"The Palestinians have won another victory in their war against Israel, and proved that terror and violence against [Jews and Israelis] pays off."
The Israeli Left was unimpressed by Netanyahu's qualified endorsement of Palestinian statehood.
The Kadima party said that Netanyahu would be tested by his words.
"After months during which he dragged Israel into a political corner, today Netanyahu made a step in the right direction," Kadima officials said. "However, due to his conduct and the manner in which he presented his message tonight, he will be tested by his actions and not by his words."
"Although the speech does bear evidence to an encouraging shift from a person who, throughout his entire public life, warned against the establishment of a Palestinian state, and has finally acknowledged history's rules - Netanyahu's speech is too little, too late," Meretz leader Haim Oron said in a statement.
"The array of reservations that Netanyahu put forth, including the stateless-state condition and his continued support of the settlements, will create difficulties for purposeful negotiations," Oron added.
MK Ahmed Tibi (United Arab List) expressed disappointment with the speech, saying, "The mountain of Netanyahu's address has given rise to a molehill."
"The speech displayed an ideological fixity that wants a non-sovereign Palestinian state with continued settlement building," Tibi said. "I hope that the White House reveals Netanyahu's public relations deceit. The PLO does not have to and will never recognize Israel as a Jewish state."
The only party that seemed to express support for Netanyahu after his speech was coalition partner Labor, in a statement released by MK Daniel Ben Simon.
"This is a large step for the state of Israel and one giant leap for Netanyahu," said Ben Simon in a paraphrase of Neil Armstrong's famous 1969 moon statement.
"This is the first time the head of the Revisionist right-wing says the words 'Palestinian state'", he added.
Shas leader Eli Yishai backed Netanyahu as well in a reaction ignoring the call for Palestinian statehood.
"The prime minister expressed support for a lasting peace and security," he said. "The people of Israel have always wanted peace. Let's hope the Palestinian people abandon the ways of terror and pursue peace."
Источник: JPost.com
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