Former Shin Bet chief: Netanyahu not interested in peace talks

[Jefferson23]

The harsh criticism sounded by former Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the issue of Iran on Friday were only the tip of the iceberg.

During the same speech in the “Majdi Forum” in Kfar Saba, Diskin blamed Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for the freeze in the peace process.

“Forget the stories they tell you about how Abbas is not interested in negotiation,” said Diskin, adding: “We are not talking to the Palestinians because this government has no interest in negotiations."

The former Shin Bet chief added: "I was there up to a year ago and I know from up-close what is happening. This government is not interested in solving anything with the Palestinians, and I say this certainty,” he added.

in full: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/former-shin-bet-chief-netanyahu-not-interested-in-peace-talks-1.426934

[oberliner]

1. Should be appended to this post

Ex-intelligence chief Diskin says Netanyahu, Barak ‘not fit to lead Israel’ and wrong on Iran

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11349082

Try to do a search before posting.

[Jefferson23]

2. I prefer my source, and I would not presume if I were you that a search wasn't already conducted.

[shira]

6. Former Shin Bet leader is now a hero somehow to the Left. From demonized to lionized...

Amazing.

I'm wondering whether the Left is soon expecting an apology from Diskin for the way his Shin Bet treated the Palestinians during his watch.

[Jefferson23]

3. Following criticism of Netanyahu, Israeli ministers attack former Shin Bet chief

While aides to both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have yet to respond to the harsh words uttered by ex-Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin, several Likud ministers were apparently dispatched on Saturday to criticize the former security official.

On Friday, Diskin, speaking at a local event at the city of Kfar Sava, said that he had "no faith in the current leadership, which must lead us in an event on the scale of war with Iran or a regional war."
Shalom Simhon - Ofer Vaknin


"I don't believe in either the prime minister or the defense minister. I don't believe in a leadership that makes decisions based on messianic feelings," he added.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/following-criticism-of-netanyahu-israeli-ministers-attack-former-shin-bet-chief-1.426944

[bemildred]

4. That seems so Republican somehow.

Attack the messenger, ignore the message.

[Jefferson23]

5. They seem determined to hold onto that strategy regardless of who is speaking out. n/t

[oberliner]

8. Netanyahu is very much like Bush

They share a similar view of the world.

[bemildred]

9. There are certain obvious similarities.

I often find myself wondering about that, how they interacted with each other when not on stage, so to speak.

[shira]

10. Bibi's not a neocon like Bush...

A great recent example is what has gone on in Libya and Egypt. The neocons were all in for each overthrow, hoping democracy would result.

Bibi wasn't onboard with that.

[oberliner]

7. Apart from Netanyahu and Barak, ‘most Israeli political and security leaders oppose attack on Iran’

The overwhelming majority of Israel’s political, military and intelligence leadership reportedly believes the time is not ripe for an Israeli military attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, and shares the assessment that an Israeli strike would, at best, merely set back rather than destroy the Iranian program.

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that a decision on striking Iran will be made in the next few months, and his Defense Minister Ehud Barak said last week that it was time to gear up to put the Iranian program to “a decisive end,” this assessment is not shared by President Shimon Peres, the chief of staff of the Israeli army and his predecessor, the head of the Mossad intelligence service and his predecessor, at least five of the most senior ministers in the government and the leader of the opposition, Kadima party chairman Shaul Mofaz, respected Israeli media analysts said Saturday night.

The issue is headline news because the former head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service, Yuval Diskin, on Friday publicly branded Netanyahu and Barak as “unfit” to lead the country in confronting the Iranian nuclear threat, and wrong in their approach to the danger, sparking a political firestorm.

Diskin served for six years as Shin Bet chief until a year ago, and so worked closely with the two leaders in whom he said he has “no faith.” Working alongside him, as head of the Mossad, was Meir Dagan, a lifelong intelligence veteran who has repeatedly warned against the “stupid” notion of Israeli military intervention at this stage. According to Emmanuel Rosen, a respected analyst for Channel 10 news, Gabi Ashkenazi, the IDF’s chief of staff until last year, “essentially shares” Diskin’s assessment.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/apart-from-netanyahu-and-barak-most-israeli-political-and-security-leaders-oppose-attack-on-iran/

[Dick Dastardly]

11. Whether it is true or not it does not change the fact that

prior to Bibi there were many years where the Israeli Gov was negotiating and put forth numerous fair peace plans only to be rejected and met with constant terrorism, rocket attacks and incitement of the Palestinian people against peace. Bibi's election is the direct result of these Palestinian actions.

Also irregardless of just about any other factors no government in their right mind is going to make a deal that leaves them wide open for even more attacks with someone that wants its destruction, has constantly attacked and incited or cant control those who do. Like it or not Israel is the more powerful and in the real world it is up to the Palestinians to build enough trust with the Israelis to make a paradigm shift possible. Palestinian actions over the years have reduced the trust Israelis have in the Palestinians and the Israeli's willingness to take any risks that open themselves up to more attacks by Palestinians making any paradigm shift to a riskier peace deal much harder. When the US occupied Japan do you think if the Japanese constantly launched attacks against the US, incited against the US or could not control those who did that we would have ended the occupation of Japan and or made any deal that would make it easier for them to attack us? Hell no.

[Jefferson23]

12. Do you really think that bringing up Japan, a country we dropped not 1 but 2 atomic

bombs on, is a good comparison?

Look, I don't agree with your assessment and I'm not going to argue
with you about it. Yet I would think that what is being said here is vitally
important for Israel, not only the Palestinians, and would concern everyone.

Why you question the truth in the OP, I'm not sure.

[Jefferson23]

13. Netanyahu aides: Former Shin Bet chief attacked PM out of personal vengeance ( lol )

Officials close to PM, Defense Minister say scathing attack by Yuval Diskin is 'irresponsible,' 'petty,' and motivated by Netanyahu's unwillingness to name him Mossad chief.

Following a harsh attack by former Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin, aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak criticized Saturday the one-time security official, calling his comments "irresponsible" and petty."

Earlier in the day, comments made by Diskin during an event in his local town of Kfar Sava on Friday came to light. During the event, the former intelligence chief unleashed a scathing attack on Netanyahu and Barak, saying he had "no faith" in their leadership.

Diskin criticized Netanyahu and Barak on their bellicose stance on Iran, as well as on what he called the premier's unwillingness to advance peace talks with the Palestinian Authority.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-aides-former-shin-bet-chief-attacked-pm-out-of-personal-vengeance-1.426987

[Jefferson23]

14. Former Mossad chief backs Shin Bet counterpart over criticism of Netanyahu, Barak

At a New York conference, Meir Dagan says Yuval Diskin 'spoke his truth' when she said he lacked faith in Netanyahu, Barak over Iran and peace process.

By Haaretz

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/former-mossad-chief-backs-shin-bet-counterpart-over-criticism-of-netanyahu-barak-1.427153

[Jefferson23]

15. Former Mossad chief, Israeli minister trade accusations at New York conference

An embarrassing confrontation broke out on Sunday during a panel discussion at a New York conference, when former Mossad chief Meir Dagan accused Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan of lying, while Erdan replied that Dagan is sabotaging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to put a halt to Iran's nuclear aspirations.

At the conference, sponsored by the Jerusalem Post in New York, the two also exchanged harsh words after Dagan warned Erdan over the so-called "Dagan law," forbidding former security officials to issue open statements until a certain cooling period wears off.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/former-mossad-chief-israeli-minister-trade-accusations-at-new-york-conference-1.427174