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Last update - 22:02 15/06/2009
Palestinian response to Netanyahu speech - panic or delusion?
By Avi Issacharoff
Tags: Israel news, Netanyahu speech 

The Palestinian reaction to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address Sunday can been seen as an indication of panic or alternately as proof that they are drunk with power.

One by one the Palestinian Authority officials criticized Netanyahu's speech over the air waves following his much anticipated policy speech at Bar-Ilan University on Sunday.

(Click here for the full text of Netanyahu's foreign policy speech.)
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First was senior Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat, who, several minutes after Netanyahu's speech, said in an interview to Al-Jazeera that the Arab peace initiative should be frozen. A few minutes later secretary of the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee Yasser Abed Rabbo called Netanyahu a "conman and a liar." The reaction was so immediate that it is difficult to determine whether it was preplanned as an ambush for Netanyahu or an impulsive and incomprehensible reaction on the part of the PA officials.

Netanyahu's speech did not surprise anyone in the Palestinian Authority. The PA officials have already heard the statements before - a demilitarized Palestinian state, objection to the right of return of Palestinian refugees, and even the slogan "a united Jerusalem," which has been used by all Israeli premiers. But Netanyahu does differ from his predecessors in one respect, which is also a possible source of Palestinian ire.

From the PA's perspective, Netanyahu's demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state is almost humiliating, and it is highly unlikely to be realized. For the Palestinians, the repetition of this demand is an excuse on Netanyahu's part to avoid a peace agreement.

In addition, it seems that Abed Rabbo and his associates chose an insulting and petty reaction to the speech because they sensed that they could. It was only a few days ago that Erekat said that for the first time in history the Palestinians were in a position of power in negotiations with Israel. The Palestinians sensed that Netanyahu, who is not overly popular in Washington and with international community, was easy prey and therefore subject to ridicule, regardless of the content of his speech. Dubbing the Israeli Prime Minister a "conman" mere moments after he agreed to a two-state solution was not an appropriate reaction.

The second possibility is less likely. The Israeli recognition of the principle of a Palestinian state pressured the Palestinians into reacting with needlessly aggressive statements.

Ultimately, however, Abed Rabbo, Erekat and even Abbas will have to contend with Mahmoud Zahar and Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, not Netanyahu and Lieberman, and this is likely the source of their great distress.

Related articles:
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  • Full text of Netanyahu's foreign policy speech at Bar Ilan
  • Netanyahu, Mideast peace and a return to the Axis of Evil
  • ANALYSIS / Netanyahu speech aimed solely for Obama's ears
  • Obama welcomes Netanyahu acceptance of Palestinian state
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      1.   1948 Partition Resolution 17:09  |  Adam Brown 15/06/09
      2.   Delusion 17:17  |  ZL 15/06/09
      3.   Excellent analyse, let them deal with Hamas 17:20  |  maurice 15/06/09
      4.   you have to agree the speach was terrible 17:23  |  Hani 15/06/09
      5.   PLO, Egypt, etc: We`ll never accept JEWISH state 17:26  |  Martin P 15/06/09
      6.   conman and liar 17:26  |  Gershon 15/06/09
      7.   Knee-Jerk Reaction 17:33  |  Scrolls 15/06/09
      8.   Some sanity from Haaretz 17:34  |  Rachel Carter 15/06/09
      9.   It is a start. Use the Israeli "Methodology" 17:35  |  Witness 15/06/09
      10.   Not good enough 17:37  |  Arnold 15/06/09
      11.   dilussional or spinster? 17:45  |  Avita 15/06/09
      12.   Pals always become more extreme when offered a concession 17:47  |  Realist 15/06/09
      13.   Re: #1 17:47  |  Reuben 15/06/09
      14.   ZL, here`s why... 17:49  |  Nour 15/06/09
      15.   Netanyahu didn`t offer a "state." 17:53  |  Thom 15/06/09
      16.   And the US response to the Palestinian Response is ... 17:53  |  Scrolls 15/06/09
      17.   Bibi loves Arikat response.. 17:54  |  David 15/06/09
      18.   Erakat`s turtle parable was not spontaneous. 17:57  |  Fortuna Benmayor 15/06/09
      19.   Issacharoff ,an always obliging spokesman for pal cannibals 17:59  |  Absolute Sweden 15/06/09
      20.   So Obvious 18:07  |  TZ 15/06/09
      21.   The answer is clear 18:07  |  Hezi 15/06/09
      22.   Delusion sure, but by whom? 18:10  |  r cummings 15/06/09
      23.   Mission Impossible 18:10  |  Golda Meir 15/06/09
      24.   This wasn`t a step forward by Netanyahu. It was a step back. 18:18  |  Michael 15/06/09
      25.   "moments after he agreed to a two-state solution" 18:23  |  Axel 15/06/09
      26.   Peace in the middle east 18:27  |  Dochollywood 15/06/09
      27.   Just like Northern Ireland 18:35  |  MARK KLEIN, M.D. 15/06/09
      28.   Where is weapon given to PA in GAZA? - In HAMAS hands............ 18:36  |  Vittorio 15/06/09
      29.   arabs get ready to screw up again 18:36  |  v hardman 15/06/09
      30.   Golda Meir: Actually it the love of our children 18:37  |  Arab 15/06/09
      31.   Conman sounds about right. 18:37  |  jens 15/06/09
      32.   Gola Meir - Peace will come to the Israel when Palestinians 18:38  |  Observer 15/06/09
      33.   Dear Golda, the Arabs do love their children. 18:38  |  Lou Medel 15/06/09
      34.   Immediate denunciation serves as proof 18:40  |  Arie 15/06/09
      35.   If Bibi had just gone a little further... 18:41  |  Tzfonit 15/06/09
      36.   #1 ZK Why is a military so necessary? 18:44  |  Lou Medel 15/06/09
      37.   Right, that`s it Avi 18:49  |  Abe 15/06/09
      38.   Palestinians still blaming others for their own failures 20:10  |  Joe Sittizen 15/06/09
      39.   Mutual recognition is in order 20:12  |  Peter 15/06/09
      40.   Palestinian responses 20:20  |  Michael 15/06/09
      41.   please be frank, palestinians 21:16  |  Middle Israel 15/06/09
      42.   Fly `Liberian` Flag, reference third/fourth Russian aliyah 21:21  |  Shaul Ben-Yimini 15/06/09
      43.   Abbas, Erekat,Rabbo & co. are corrupt fools 21:24  |  peacelover 15/06/09
      44.   Hani # 4 Why there will not be peace 21:28  |  dovvod 15/06/09
      45.   IT WAS NEITHER: JERUSALEM DID IT 21:42  |  Arik Silverman 15/06/09
      46.   to Nour.... 21:43  |  Freddy 15/06/09
      47.   Why is it humiliating for Palestine to recognize a Jewish state? 21:59  |  Robert 15/06/09
      48.   Sandwich? No cheese! No lettuce! No spread! No bread! 22:00  |  Concerned Jew 15/06/09
      49.   to #14 22:06  |  Ken 15/06/09
      50.   Do business with Rabbo? No way! 22:06  |  Jason 15/06/09
      51.   #14....Nour 02:40  |  Malone 16/06/09
      52.   Peace will come... 02:54  |  Douglas 16/06/09
      53.   Proving Palestinians Dont Want A State, Just No Israel 03:08  |  Meron 16/06/09
      54.   bibi`s bs 03:10  |  by gum 16/06/09
      55.   Palestinians don`t Love their children as much as they love armed 03:14  |  ks 16/06/09
      56.   The immediate reaction by PA was impulsive... 03:31  |  Smadar 16/06/09
      57.   35 Tzfonit - Wait for Abbas` Speech 03:33  |  Mark of Lewiston 16/06/09
      58.   3. try - axel 08:41  |  scallywag 16/06/09
      59.   3. try - it appears the palestinians are in panic 08:41  |  scallywag 16/06/09
      60.   #58 scallywag obviously heard a different speech 11:04  |  Johnboy 16/06/09
      61.   #57 You might want to reconsider, scallywag 11:30  |  Johnboy 16/06/09
      62.   Recognition of states is not a legal requirement 13:05  |  Concerned Jew 16/06/09
      63.   A Bantustan Is Not A State 15:29  |  Rainbow Warrior 16/06/09
      64.   Enough talk. time to be realistic and evacuate 18:23  |  Tony Silver 16/06/09
      65.   to Concerned jew.... you are right. 18:28  |  Tony Silver 16/06/09
      66.   Isreal is missing the point... 20:51  |  Human Being 16/06/09
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