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Points of high importance in Netanyahu speech which were omitted from your article

Reader comment on item: Assessing Binyamin Netanyahu's Speech at Bar-Ilan University

Submitted by Refael Laufert (Israel), Jun 15, 2009 at 03:02

"Points of high importance in Netanyahu's speech…" – comments

In assessing Netanyahu's speech, one should keep in mind three important factors:

  1. His personal approach to the Arab-Israeli Conflict,
  2. His wish to avoid, at least for the time being, a confrontation with the US current administration,
  3. An obvious need to preserve his existing coalition, and maintain his promises to the Likud party members and constituencies.

I think that his speech reflects all those points together as guidelines and main motives.

In light of the above-mentioned issues, the "points of high importance…" of his speech should also include and make reference to the following topics:

  1. Netanyahu's main emphasis in his speech is on the Iranian threat (second in importance is the economy and the third is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict). In Netanyahu and Israel's time-table, this is by far the outstanding issue, and the most urgent one. Whether this problem is solved in the near future or not, may have a most significant impact on the nature of any Arab-Israeli negotiation and its potential results. With nuclear Iran around, even those possibilities that Netanyahu explicitly mentioned in his speech, seem remote and impractical. In this case the requirement from the Palestinian Authority to solve the issue of Hamas may become even a pre-condition to any progress beyond a certain point in time. Without nuclear Iran on the other hand, there is a better chance to make progress in the negotiations, even though the Arab leaders' reactions to the speech so far, are quite disappointing and discouraging.
  2. Jerusalem is the historic capital of Israel and should remain united.
  3. The settlements in the 'West Bank' – Israel will not build new settlements and will not expand the legitimate existing ones at the expense of Arabs' owned land. On the other hand, natural growth of the existing settlements will be maintained and accommodated for. There is no intention of the government to take any steps which may harm the settlers, suffocate the settlements or be interpreted as a harsh and harmful prior to negotiations (pre-conditions are not acceptable).

My assessment is that the speech was intentionally somewhat ambiguous on this issue so as to pave the road towards discussions with the Palestinians. At the same time, some indirect meanings have been emerging gradually since the speech was delivered; one example is Dan Meridors' comment recently, which indicated that Status-quo in the West Bank without a political process (i.e. a Palestinian ban on resumption of negotiations with Israel) is 'No option' for Israel.

  1. Broad participation of the Arab countries in the political process in the Middle-East is an essential contribution to its validity. This is based on the concept that a regional political settlement should reflect a final conciliation of the Arab world with Israel as the national state of the Jewish People, in addition to a solution to the Palestinian problem. Conciliation also means abandoning of any future claims against Israel with regard to the past. The agreements will have to determine the timing, conditions and road map for the implementation of these goals.
  2. The Palestinian Authority has to solve the Hamas Issue prior to any agreement. Israel will not sign an agreement with an organization that does not recognize it or its right to exist and live in peace unconditionally; or will it sign separate agreements with The Palestinian Authority, the Hamas or any other separate Palestinian organization. There will have to be one agreement with one acceptable representative of the Palestinian People without exceptions and / or regrets.

6. The concept of 'Economic Peace' has a stabilizing effect in the region. It intends to reduce the economical gaps and differences between Israel and its neighbors, to reduce dependency of a Palestinian state on Israel's economy, and to initiate a major project for settling the Palestinian refugees permanently in the places where they reside currently. The formal act of declaring and establishing a Palestinian state must include economical, administrative, judicial, and law enforcement infrastructure, capable of supporting life in the newly born state, or else the whole 'exercise' may become a farce. Had it not been a matter of national security to Israel, Israel could and perhaps even should refrain from dealing with it altogether but this is not the case. As one can easily deduce from this argumentation, Netanyahu means business. But it should be built gradually, carefully and on a sound basis; it is not a one time shot, but rather a process.

The key to understanding Netanyahu's approach is the overall concern with the complex issue of the national security of Israel: we must persuade a solution which will balance the increased risks Israel can take upon itself with proper compensation made by the Arabs – Palestinians and non Palestinians. Understanding this point is both a measure of goodwill and good intentions. The Israeli-Palestinian-Arab conflict is asymmetrical in many ways: Population, land, natural resources, political influence, economical potential and many strategic advantages. This asymmety reflects on the nature of an agreement which may by successful – it must not enhance the already existing asymmetrical situation. Any agreement will include certain steps which are easily reversible (declarative, 'paper work' and software-like) and others which are irreversible (mainly withdrawal from territories and strategic positions). This must be balanced in any agreement to come.

If Netanyahu's initiative fails, the only alternative will be to return to the idea of an agreement between Israel and a Jordanian-Palestinian state, located in the Eastern Bank and part of the Western Bank of the Jordan River, with the Jordan River as Eastern security border for Israel. A non-Jewish state is no option for Israel whatsoever, and if brought up as some non-realistic dreamers suggest, will soon become a case of casus belli.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (45) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Comments on PM Netanyahu's speech - from Israel [617 words]Chana GivonJun 28, 2009 19:26158147
A reaction to Chana Givon comments. [263 words]batya daganJun 29, 2009 20:11158147
A Note to Israel Advocacy Organizations [327 words]Ron SingerJun 21, 2009 14:15157728
A Cup of Reeling for the Nations [184 words]WB KellyJun 20, 2009 23:00157698
1NETANYAHU'S SPEECH [181 words]JACQUES HADIDAJun 18, 2009 21:06157611
Natanyahou speech is a call for WAR! [60 words]Karam H AL-HashmiJun 18, 2009 17:48157598
Netanyahu is trying to navigate in a mine-field. [276 words]Isaac HaskiyaJun 17, 2009 08:32157524
The root of the problem [63 words]JoeJun 16, 2009 06:29157465
Those who are merciful to the cruel will end up being cruel to the merciful [262 words]David OleskerJun 16, 2009 03:52157459
Ommision of various statements by Netanyahu [94 words]Gerald KreadenJun 16, 2009 00:39157451
Bibi's Blunder [165 words]Rebecca MouldsJun 16, 2009 00:18157449
PM Netanyahu's speech was just political. [89 words]M.D'SouzaJun 15, 2009 20:07157435
Behind the duelling speeches of Obama and Netanyahu [446 words]Ron ThompsonJun 15, 2009 19:36157429
Shakedown [96 words]Dr.BobbyJun 15, 2009 18:16157427
The lobotomy option [342 words]Richard K.Jun 15, 2009 17:27157424
"Palestinians" cannot have wealth [141 words]Sabba HillelJun 15, 2009 16:26157421
Netanyahu's Speech [166 words]Christopher VenturaJun 15, 2009 12:59157408
Israel a Jewish State [76 words]dannykidJun 15, 2009 12:49157407
All that Bibi stated is both theoretical and moot. [159 words]Don SaarJun 15, 2009 10:20157401
The Palestinians won't even yield to the extent sought in the speech [72 words]PeterJun 15, 2009 07:15157395
Why Did He Do It? [40 words]Bill NarveyJun 15, 2009 06:19157391
Points of high importance in Netanyahu speech which were omitted from your article [953 words]Refael LaufertJun 15, 2009 03:02157387
Two important responses to Bibi's speech [13 words]Joe SettlerJun 15, 2009 03:01157386
Why Did He Do It? [180 words]Sofa SogoodJun 15, 2009 01:56157384
1A Jewish Response to Netanyahu's Speech [1415 words]Prof. Paul EidelbergJun 15, 2009 01:07157382
The Differences Between a Politician & A Statesman [396 words]Adina Kutnicki, IsraelJun 15, 2009 08:32157382
Response to Netanyahu's Speech [408 words]Kim SegarJun 15, 2009 10:39157382
Still Small Voice in all this... [211 words]WB KellyJun 16, 2009 23:25157382
Cunning vs. Wisdom [101 words]Prof. EidelbergJun 17, 2009 21:24157382
Netanyahu's Priorities [1144 words]Prof. Paul EidelbergJun 18, 2009 01:05157382
Whack job [117 words]EricRomanoffJun 14, 2009 23:37157381
Palestinian unreasonableness makes me cry [208 words]GunjanJun 14, 2009 23:35157380
Bibi is not weak. [398 words]batya daganJun 14, 2009 22:41157376
Netanyahu is darned if he does, and darned if he doesn't [70 words]AnneJun 14, 2009 20:54157374
The end of Israel [150 words]Alan NitikmanJun 14, 2009 20:33157373
Alan Nitikman [171 words]orange yonasonJun 15, 2009 03:44157373
Addendum... [139 words]orange yonasonJun 14, 2009 20:12157372
Overall, It's About The Best We Can Expect... [90 words]orange yonasonJun 14, 2009 19:56157371
West Bank Arabs face only 2 real options: (a) Hamas rule, (b) Jordanian rule [267 words]G MarcusJun 14, 2009 19:33157369
Conditions [250 words]NiraJun 14, 2009 19:31157368
If ... Then ... [198 words]CanaanJun 15, 2009 04:56157368
A Fine Speech On Many Points [197 words]AmerisraelJun 14, 2009 18:55157367
Road Map [73 words]asherJun 15, 2009 17:00157367
a roadmap to where [590 words]pete murrayJun 14, 2009 18:21157363
Political Posturing and Rhetoric [65 words]KafiristJun 14, 2009 17:39157356

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