Netanyahu holding firm... for now
Netanyahu gave an indication of what he will say in Europe, telling a gathering of the National Public Diplomacy Forum that met on Tuesday to summarize Operation Pillar of Defense, that the Gaza “war” was over Israel’s existence.
“We left territories we took during the Six Day War, such as Gaza, and they fire rockets on us,” he said. “The root of the conflict is not the settlements, not the territories; it is the very existence of Israel and their desire to wipe us off the map.”
The prime minister’s message, according to the officials, will be that if the Palestinians continue with provocative steps, Israel reserves the right to respond.
He will say that it is important for the Europeans to use their influence with the Palestinians to encourage a positive dynamic, not a negative one.
This message is one that Israeli officials have been telling their European interlocutors since the tidal wave of criticism over the recent settlement plans began: The ball is in the EU’s court, and they should get the Palestinians to avoid further unilateral steps.What could go wrong?
Labels: Angela Merkel, Binyamin Netanyahu, E-1, East Jerusalem, Germany, Judea and Samaria construction
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:42 AM
1 Comments:
Netanyahu is simply following the political winds at home... which lean to the Right.
His calculation being that if he caves, he will lose votes not to his Left but to his Right.
And the Likud caucus is even further to the right to Netanyahu himself.
The political demographics in Israel have shifted over the last 20 years and Europe and America are in deep denial about contemporary Israel.
And Israeli patience with the Arabs has run out.
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