Peace Now Response to Bibi Netanyahu's Speech

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Peace Now | June 15, 2009

A response from Secretary-General of Peace Now, Yariv Oppenheimer:


"It's a rerun of Netanyahu from his first term"

www.peacenow.org.il

At the end of a week of speculation and mounting expectations, after Netanyahu's speech at Bar Ilan University, we can say loud and clear: the Emperor has no clothing.
Bibi is still Bibi, perhaps more sophisticated but without a real message for the State of Israel.
Without vision, without a course of action and without any willingness to lead Israel to the necessary decisions, Netanyahu tried to remake himself, but even the pair of words "Palestinian state" is no magic formula that can cover the political nakedness of Netanyahu and his government.
In Netanyahu's vision of an upgraded autonomy called a "demilitarized Palestinian state," the lives of the Palestinians will be dictated solely by the whims of the government of Israel in Jerusalem.
Worrying elements of his speech:
• Netanyahu did not speak of the Palestinians as equal partners, neighbors whose fate is dependent on one another, partners in a long and complex process that requires trust-building, cooperation and a joint war on the extremists on both sides.
• Netanyahu chose to describe the Palestinians as of one cloth, in sweeping generalizations, using patronizing and arrogant language and referring in his speech to the Palestinians as if they were a primitive tribe subject to the graces of Israel.
• Not a word of self-criticism about Israel's mistakes over the years, not a word about the moral need to put an end to the occupation, not a word about the Palestinian's right to negotiate with Israel as equal partners in a real process.
• Freedom of movement and a normal life are a prize the government is willing to give the Palestinians in exchange for their loyal behavior towards Israel.
• The government of Israel would have complete freedom to act, to build, to establish facts on the ground and to expand construction in the settlements
Such an arrogant and aggravating attitude by one side, that wishes to dictate terms to the other side, will never lead to a real agreement of peace and reconciliation between peoples.
To the contrary, a militant and patronizing attitude will make the moderate government on the Palestinian side reject the crumbs Israel is willing to throw it, and instead of negotiations the PA will prefer joining the extreme element that still support violent resistance against the occupation. If Netanyahu continues speaking and acting as he did at Bar Ilan, the third intifada will come fast.
The Prime Minister's office was quick to characterize the speech as representing the broad Israeli consensus among the nation today, this is clearly untrue and Peace Now will continue its work to expose the real Netanyahu govt and push for a real peace to end the conflict.

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