Netanyahu reacts positively to UN address: Obama sent message to Arabs that Israel is a Jewish state

[jefferson_dem]

Netanyahu: Obama sent message to Arabs that Israel is a Jewish state
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent

Hours after U.S. President Barack Obama's speech to the United Nations in which he called on Israel and the Palestinians to resume peace negotiations "without preconditions," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sat down for an interview with Haaretz to share his views on the day's events.

Mr. Prime Minister, President Obama mentioned in his speech the need to "end the occupation." You characterized the speech as "positive."

"I think that the speech was a good speech, a positive one, one that expressed our determination to reach peace, and he also said something that we have asked for over the course of the last half-a-year, and that is the need to meet and to begin the diplomatic process without preconditions."
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"Secondly, he spoke very clearly and sharply about the right of Israel as a state of the Jewish people. And I believe that the refusal to accept this is the root of the conflict . So this clear statement which was made on a global stage is important vis-à-vis the Arab world and especially the Palestinians."

"Thirdly, he praised the efforts we have made to ease the roadblocks, advance the Palestinian economy. All of these things advance a diplomatic process that is responsible and measured. The things he said regarding the occupation are not new. He said the same things in Cairo, and in fact this is the formulation that was adopted in the road map, and it does not mean that we have to retreat to the '67 lines."

"This is a wording that was adopted by government that preceded mine, government that did not agree to return to the '67 lines. Obviously we will not agree to this. Even on the issue of settlements he did not say anything new because this is the accepted position by all administrations for the last 40 years."

"What he did say that was new is that these disagreements do not necessarily have to prevent the start of a process which, if it ends successfully, will determine these issues."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1116576.html

[provis99]

1. I missed the speech,

but if Netanyahu liked it, that means nothing but bad news for the Palestinians. So how many billions did Obama promise the genocidal Israelis this time to kill of the Palestinians?

[jefferson_dem]

2. Scumbag neocon John Bolton says it was "the most anti-Israel speech" any president has ever given.

Now I guess the speech is being slammed as being too pro-Israeli by some.

So...

Obama must be doing it right.

[Cha]

6. PO is out there doing the work and all these idiots

who sit around whining and bitching don't know how to accomplish anything but destruction.

[old mark]

3. Bolton is a fucking idiot. The President stated clearly that Israel HAS A RIGHT TO EXIST

something many if its heighbor states would never admit. I am hoping that some of them will pay a little respect to his speech, but I doubt it.

mark

[burning rain]

4. The message Israelis desperately need to hear,....

is that Israel must revert to the pre-'67 borders. Palestinians will not accept--nor should they accept--a Swiss-cheese state riddled with Israeli settlements. Israelis need to hear this message--because lack of this precondition for peace means more rather than fewer dead Israelis, and no person of good will wants that.

[ej510]

5. If Israel does not comply there will be consequences like sanctions and the cutting of military

funding.

[hollowdweller]

7. If congress would cut off all aid to Israel and Palestine until they worked it out it would get done

Both countries are not self supporting. We should make working it out contingent on receiving aid.

[Colobo]

8. I'm with you.

[JMMendez1989]

9. Good

As a christian and someone who studies the bible its hard to see these two getting along, and peace can be possible, but short term. Of course thats my view due to my religion. Either way I wanna see peace happen. I think both countries have made major mistakes. But I'm a little biased because I do favor the Jews somewhat. EIther way Obama will hopefully find common ground. He is usually good with that.