So I lied?
So I lied? Chairman of the National Union party, MK Yaakov Katz, says that Prime Minister Netanyahu did not tell the ministers of the security cabinet the truth about US promises.Hmmm.
"In meetings I held with senior U.S. administration officials it appears that Netanyahu did not report the truth to the ministers. The Americans have not promised not to demand a third freeze and have not promised that it will not apply to Jerusalem."
Labels: Binyamin Netanyahu, Hillary Clinton
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:43 AM
5 Comments:
I think Yaakov Katz is right... given what we are now learning about the freeze proposal, its becoming less and less attractive all the time. Netanyahu may have misheard Clinton - but that's the problem when you don't get promises in writing - they have a way of quickly disappearing.
All that's left is the American stick with pitifully few carrots. Not enough reason to justify extending the freeze three more months.
This is probably the reason that the US refuses to put the offer into writing. The US officials lied to Bibi when they made the offer, and they are unwilling to provide any hard proof of any promises they offer. Now they are trying to make Bibi look bad by pretending that it is Bibi who is lying instead of themselves.
As you have noted before, the USA could easily get Israel to agree to a 3-month freeze if they were willing to offer the release/return of Pollard. This would cost the US nothing, and since the mid-term elections are over, it would not pose a serious risk of electoral backlash. However, it is something the US will refuse to do because Obama has learned to negotiate with Israel exactly as the Arabs do - never actually deliver anything but empty promises.
"In meetings I held with senior U.S. administration officials it appears that Netanyahu did not report the truth to the ministers."
"Netanyahu may have misheard Clinton." [me shaking my head incredulously]
Most politicians find ways of giving non-answers or skirting the truth or changing the subject. Bibi has no compunction about telling bald-faced lies to get his way. Why would this situation be any different?
Yes, he cannot trust the Obama administration and yes, they most likely tell him every lie in the book. But they are talking to outsiders that they very clearly dislike.
I have absolutely no doubt that Bibi tells HIS OWN PEOPLE shameless lies day in and day out. Everything he says should be scrutinized and verified - he cannot be trusted with Eretz Yisrael.
Whatever the merits of freeing Pollard now it will not help mobilize support with the gentile righteous to accept a freeze (even in Jerusalem? even if renewable?) dovka in exchange for freeing a guy who spied for Israel and broke, well, betrayed his security oath here in the States. Let that stand as its own deal. And if the freeze is a lousy strategic turkey then Pollard is no more of a "catch" than a squadron of F35s.
Already half the Likud is against the freeze and there are more that don't want to go on the record for fear of antagonizing the Prime Minister. The party should give him an ultimatum: drop your support for the freeze or risk being removed from office.
Kadima at this point can hardly be worse. The people of Israel did not elect a Prime Minister who chose to implement the policies of Kadima-Labor. Its time to choose.
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