Israel needs diplomacy, not speeches (Ha'aretz editorial)

[Violet_Crumble]

Even now, when Israel's leadership is required to show diplomatic initiative, Netanyahu intends to use the United Nation's stage for anachronistic propaganda that bears no relationship to Israel's most vital interests.

On the eve of his departure for the UN General Assembly, whose members are being asked to recognize a Palestinian state in the borders of June 4, 1967, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented his trip as an emergency mission to save Israel from a plot to destroy it.

At a well-publicized demonstration of support by his Likud Knesset faction and mayors, Netanyahu promised that in tomorrow's speech to the General Assembly, he will represent "a people under assault from those who oppose its very existence." This erroneous representation shows that even now, when Israel's leadership is required to show diplomatic initiative, the prime minister intends to use the international organization's stage for anachronistic propaganda that bears no relationship to Israel's most vital interests.

Instead of bolstering pragmatic partners like Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and King Abdullah of Jordan, Netanyahu prefers to throw sand in the public's eyes and terrify it.

Abbas stressed in a speech last Friday that his bid for UN recognition of a Palestinian state was not intended to replace direct negotiations on the basis of the 1967 borders. Before that, the leadership of Abbas' Fatah party adopted the formula of mutually agreed land swaps that U.S. President Barack Obama proposed in May, as well as the Arab peace initiative of 2002.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/israel-needs-diplomacy-not-speeches-1.385930

[Jefferson23]

1. a people under assault from those who oppose its very existence."

Reality turned on its head..I look forward to more of Bibi's "truth".


Something I found appalling, among other aspects of yesterdays events: Abbas has to make sure Netanyahu is not embarrassed and Bibi, the liar,
about his settlement freeze bullshit.

The US and Israel agreed in private talks that Obama will outline the financial ramifications of a unilateral Palestinian move to Abbas. Obama was meant to demand that the Palestinian president meet with Netanyahu as soon as possible so as not to embarrass him.


Abbas had originally intended to meet Obama after submitting the membership bid but was forced by the US to hold the meeting earlier. The US is threatening to cut aid to the PA.


Also Wednesday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met separately with Netanyahu and Abbas as part of efforts to pressure both sides into reaching a compromise. The Quartet wishes to issue a statement which will serve as the basis for a renewed peace process.


Prior to the meeting Netanyahu said: "Well, I did, as you know, and did something that no previous Israeli government did. I actually froze any construction for 10 months, waited nine months and one week; the Palestinians finally came and said, well, keep on freezing.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4125873,00.html