Jerusalem – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Fox News’ Megyn Kelly on Thursday and reiterates that he did not retract his statement about a two-state solution during a speech at Bar-Ilan University six years ago.
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“I didn’t retract any of the things I said in my speech six years ago, calling for a solution in which a demilitarized Palestinian state recognizes a Jewish state,” Netanyahu told Kelly.
During the interview Netanyahu was asked by Kelly if he regretted comments he made on election day about Arab-Israelis turning out to vote against him “in droves,” the Israeli premier said his words “should be taken in a larger context.”
“I warned of foreign money coming in to selectively try and bring out supporters of a list that includes Islamists and other factions that oppose the State of Israel,” he said, referring to the Joint Arab list, which on March 17 became the third largest party in the Knesset.
Regarding comments he made in a 2009 speech at Bar Ilan University endorsing a two-state solution, Netanyahu charged that the conditions for a “solution in which a demilitarized Palestinian state recognizes a Jewish state” have changed.
The four-time prime minister of Israel said he did not retract comments, adding that “the conditions for that, today, are not achievable” for a simple reason.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ rejection of a Jewish state, his alliance with the Gaza-based Hamas organization, and the volatility in the region have changed “the terms” for an agreement, Netanyahu told Kelly, host of “The Kelly File” on Fox.
“We have to change the terms” for lasting peace, he said, since the conditions today are that any land ceded by Israel is “immediately taken up by Iranian-backed terrorists or by ISIS. This reality could mean that rather than achieving a two-state solution, Israel could be faced with a “no-state solution – a solution that would threaten the survival of Israel.”
Netanyahu also spoke out against the nuclear deal US President Barack Obama is negotiating with Iran, calling for “a better deal, a different deal” which would not “allow Iran to break out to a bomb very quickly.”
For Netanyahu, a good deal with Iran, which he called “a practitioner of terrorism,” would be either zero or “a symbolic number of centrifuges.” Only once there is evidence of “a change in behavior” by Tehran, could sanctions be eased. “Don’t take the foot off the break,” he cautioned, “keep on pressing.”
The current deal, Netanyahu warned, gives the Islamic Republic “an easy path to the bomb, not by violating the deal, but by keeping it.”
Netanyahu, who on Tuesday won his fourth term in office, said he was proud of his policy “to be the prime minister of all of Israelis, Arabs and Jews alike.” This “sacrosanct” right, he said, singled out Israel from the rest of the Middle East, making it “the one country where Arabs can vote freely in free and fair elections.”
Two days after his re-election, the Likud leader said he saw the elections as a clear mandate from the Israeli people – “to lead the country in a responsible way in a dangerous Middle East.”
“It is my responsibility to ensure that the one and only Jewish state lives forever,” the Israeli premier said. “That’s why I’m here; that’s why I was elected.”
Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post
In truth, that paragon of journalistic integrity FAUX NEWS, is the perfect place for נתניהו to deny back peddling. The day before he was re-elected as Prime Minister of Israel, נתניהו said, “There would not be a Palestinian state under his watch (his actual words to placate the hard right).” Three days later, in an interview with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell, he reversed his previous comments, saying he still supports a “two-state solution.”
Now inevitably, there will come a slew of posts from his apologists denying that נתניהו meant there wouldn’t be a Palestinian state ‘under his watch,’ even though his words are preserved in sound bites for posterity, and are so reported in all legitimate media. But then, there are those who specialize in denial and delusion when the אמת becomes too difficult to bear.
We should be מתפלל that נתניהו cares about Israel as much as he cares about winning elections.
If it’s a direct quote; he would have said “my watch”, not “HIS watch”!
No backpedalling; it’ll be years & years; if not never, before the Pali’s are mature enough & responsible to have their own state. Definitely not under Netanyahu.
As I understood Netanyahu to say, is, that as long as there is turmoil in all the neighboring countries concerning the nature of the ‘regimes’ in charge, it makes no sense to sign unto a peace agreement with a regime that may be put out of business in a bat of the eye.
Just consider the peace agreement with Egypt; which all hinges on the type of regime in charge. Even the peace with Jordan if fragile at best. Nevertheless; I have no doubt that Netanyahu would sign a peace agreement in an instant, with any neighbor, even if it had an unstable regime as that of Egypt or Jordan.
He had to be lying one time or the other.
He was for it before he was against it before he was for it before he was against it.
He has a fine military record and won an election. His marriage history is a turmoil. He preaches Merkel about the holocaust and he has three fancy German cars a Mercedes, bmw and an audi. He has a personal chef and spent thousands of dollars on catered food while Jews , yes Jews have to go to soup kitchens for food. He is not fit to shine the shoes of Begin A’H
He clearly said no Palestinian country under his watch. No buts and ifs. The fact that the circumstances don’t allow it, was his reasoning, but not a condition.
Regarding his view on a good deal. Generally in a deal both sides give in, otherwise it’s not called a deal. Getting everything you want, would not be a deal, and is highly unlikely to happen. Bibi knows it, but he knows that the alternative to a deal, is a path towards war, which he would love. (Not between Israel and Iran, but between the US and Iran, and the US should through them a couple of Billion dollars in the side to prep for war, as the bush’s did in 1991 and 2003.)
A war between the US and Iran, would be beneficial for Israel (and that’s what Bibi is working hard on), and a disaster for the US (and that’s what Obama is trying to prevent). They are both working hard for the benefit of their own countries, but for the lunatic republicans to come in and mess everything up, shows how irresponsible people they are.
The argument is based on false premiss. Bibi never said that he wont allow a palistinian state. If he did please post a link.
The argument is based on false premiss. Bibi never said that he wont allow a palistinian state. If he did please post a link.
Bibi likes the benkel
Truth time. How many of you would want an Arab state, sworn to your annihilation, that continues to say so, educates their children accordingly, promotes acts of terrorism, sides with the worst terrorists in the world and has never made any concession toward peace to be on your doorstep?
So, if you were Netanyahu, would you agree to it? Also, keep in mind that the Arabs say any peace would be a first step to destroying you and that you would be 9 miles wide in the center of the country.
For those of you that this applies, keep supporting Obama. The above is what you are advocating.