Netanyahu Says He Wants "Two States For Two Peoples"

By Tala Dowlatshahi, Talk Radio News Service

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a standing room only crowd at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in New York on Thursday. Mr. Netanyahu had a busy week after meeting with President Obama on Tuesday and the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon on Wednesday to address a growing international community concern about humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Richard Haass from CFR opened up the session “He (Netanyahu) has a great deal to do with significant economic growth that has helped Israel grow.”

Netanyahu thanked Haass and added he was glad to discuss the “urgent problems of the day.”  He said he spent a “very good day” in Washington this week and reports of the demise of the Israel-US relationship have just been “outright wrong.” He outlined share values in democracy, the goal to move the Palestinian peace process forward, and to make the transition from proximity talks to direct talks. 

“Both sides have grievances. We have grievances. I think the right thing to do is to move directly into peace talks as soon as possible. Two states for two peoples. We want to recognize a Palestinian state for the Palestinian people and that they recognize Israel as the state for the Jewish people.”

The Prime Minister added the rise of Iran and its proxies have posed a huge problem for Israel citing rockets fired on Israel from Lebanon.  

“Our airfields and military installations are targeted. I spent a great deal of time talking with President Obama about this in a serious way.” 

He underscored that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas must ensure security and an end to conflict. Netanyahu said hundreds of roadblocks have been removed as well after the three year blockade in Gaza where most goods are now allowed through (aside from concrete and a few housing materials). He added that the freeze of Israeli settlements until December 2010 was to get Palestinians to “talk” but they were busy pushing the Goldstone report (documented human rights violations committed by the Israeli Defense Forces on Palestinian civilians and UN schools in December 2008) and unsuccessfully attempted to prevent Israel from getting into the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). 

He admitted there is risk in attaining peace.

“I need a partner. You can’t ride on a trapeze and hold out your hand and not have a partner.” 

Netanyahu said he did not think there was a more “innovative society on earth” than Israel. And went on to say “the greatest danger in the world is Iran.”

“Iran openly calls for Israel’s destruction. Iran empowers Hamas with rockets. Iran sends saboteurs into Egypt and Yemen. They are fanatics who subscribe to a twisted creed. We must not allow the world’s most dangerous regimes to possess the world’s most dangerous weapons.”

When asked whether Israel had become a strategic liability to the US rather than an asset due to the Gaza flotilla incident, Netanyahu responded: “We are held to an impossible standard. We can put forward the truth of our case. We are the country threatened with annihilation. We seek peace, we showed that and are willing to make far reaching concessions. In the heart of the Middle East, Israel is the greatest force for stability.”

On a question on the issue of settlements, he added “I did this temporary freeze as an inducement to enter the talks. The Palestinians have not come in. Having the talks is how we will resolve the issue. I think we have shown our good faith.”

Oddly enough, the Gaza flotilla and the strained relations with Turkey, the blockade, the settlements and the issue of land rights for the Palestinians were either not discussed or lightly touched upon. Netanyahu was also not questioned on the human rights violations his government had committed on Gaza in recent years (according to the Goldstone report and the United Nations Human Rights Council and the General Assembly), the bombing of civilians and homes in Lebanon and the deaths of Turkish activists riding the flotilla packed with humanitarian aid. No questions were posed either on Israel’s own massive nuclear arsenals and the government’s failure to sign on to the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) this year.

Folks were rather glad to move away from the Palestinian issue to hear Netanyahu boast for nearly ten minutes on Israel’s flourishing economy and the country’s great advancement in personal home computers.