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Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Netanyahu says he still supports a 'two-state solution'

In response to accusations by his rivals on the Left, and to pronouncements from within his own party, Prime Minister Netanyahu said on Monday that he stands by the address he gave at Bar Ilan University in June 2009, and that he continues to support a 'two-state solution.'
The Likud-Yisrael Beytenu slate does not have a platform, and several candidates have spoken out recently against Palestinian statehood and a two-state solution.
“A Palestinian state will be established when the Palestinians recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people, will declare the end of the [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict and only if arrangements ensuring the security of Israeli citizens are made,” the Likud Beytenu spokesman stated.
As unhappy as I am about it, reality is that in theory, most Israelis support a 'two-state solution.' But most Israelis have also woken up to the reality that a 'two-state solution' on terms which would allow Israel to be secure is not in the offing in your lifetime or mine, and that's only part of the reason that they, like Netanyahu, have different priorities.
Netanyahu, according to the spokesman, does not see a Palestinian state at the top of his agenda, with Hamas ruling Gaza and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas working with Hamas and taking unilateral actions. The prime minister’s priority, he said, is to lead Israel while it is faced with a growing Hamas and the Iranian threat.
“The Left brought up questions [about Palestinian statehood] because they are ignoring the true, immediate threats of what is happening around us in the Middle East,” he added.
What does Netanyahu really think? (Note that this is a 'spokesman' and not Netanyahu who is being interviewed). I think that depends upon the side of the bed on which he wakes up, who is pushing him harder today, and whether he believes he needs anything from President Obama. In other words, there is no clear and consistent plan, and we are going to continue to muddle and roll with the punches.

What could go wrong?

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