Netanyahu: Decision to ease Gaza siege weakens Hamas
Prime Minister tells Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that easing civilian blockade allows Israel to focus on real security concerns.
By Jonathan Lis Tags: Israel news Gaza Iran Tzipi LivniThe cabinet decision to scale back the civilian blockade on Gaza while tightening the security blockade enables Israel to focus on real security issues, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday in an address to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. |
| Photo by: Tomer Appelbaum |
"The cabinet decision is the best one for Israel, because it eliminates Hamas' main propaganda claim and allows us and our international allies to face our real concerns in the realm of security," Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu said the decision to ease the siege was coordinated with the United States and Quartet representative Tony Blair.
The prime minister also addressed Iran, claiming the republic is trying to maintain a stranglehold on Israel from all sides, "with Hezbollah from the North and Hamas from the south" and said Israel would continue to defend itself and prevent these groups from arming themselves.
Netanyahu went on to say that he inherited the Gaza blockade from the former government, which opposition leader Tzipi Livni denied.
"You received from the former government international support, effective diplomatic negotiations and a political situation that de-legitimized Hamas," Livni said.
"There was a strategy and direction," Livni continued. "Today Hamas is legitimized at the expense of Israel."
Netanyahu also claimed he requested an investigation in easing the blockade in mid-2009.
Regarding the Lebanese flotilla expected to set sail to Gaza, Netanyahu said Israel will stand up to the ships, which he said are supported by the regime of Iran's ayatollahs.
"Hezbollah is responsible for the Lebanese flotilla, despite their efforts to conceal that," said Netanyahu, adding the one of the flotilla's organizers met recently with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
"We must understand that this is an effort by Iran and Hezbollah to break the naval and security blockade of Hamas," said Netanyahu.
In light of this, he told the committee, the cabinet decision to ease the siege benefits Israel. "It gives us legitimacy among our friends in the world to tighten the security blockade," said Netanyahu. "This decision will not prevent future flotillas, but it certainly destroys the basis of their propaganda against Israel."
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The reason Hamas, Hizballa are stronger now is because of the greater evil of all, Iran and its Aytollaswho invests its oil profits in spreading and supporting terrorism and evil while preparing fthe 'final solution' against Israel as well as the entire ME and Europe. As far as the clueless supporters and the apologists ready to blame Israel everytime when they open their mouth, the future holds another brilliant lesson for them, just like World War 2.
It is the next child to die from malnutrition or lack of medicine or elderly at the borders or Israeli hit myna stray rocket. These are the silent winners.
This man will be invaluable to me, Major. Invaluable, sir? I almost hanged him as a renegade. Now he asks to be a scout. Oh, his game is very obvious: to lead me away from his Indian friends. Well, I still don't quite follow you, General. Anything that man tells me will be a lie. Therefore, he will be a perfect reverse barometer.
Sure, this makes some sense. But why does he have this idea now, after three years of blockade? Flipflops, anyone?
Decision to ease Gaza siege weakens Hamas -------------------------------------------------------------- About time you figured that one out Netanyahu. Now give up East Jerusalem and the settlements and Hamas will lose its reason to exist and all of its support.
Oh right now it weakens Hamas. White man speak with forked tongue
- Gazans voted for Hamas in free and fair elections. - The US, Israel and others were surprised. - They decided to punish the people of Gaza for their insolence and for daring to make such an inconvenient choice - They imposed a siege. - They bombed a defenceless civillian population using F16 fightersand illegal phosphorous bombs - The UN and world governments looked on in cynicism, cowardice and virtual silence. - People around the world became increasingly angry at the injustice - They decided to take matters into their own hands - The siege was broken by the actions of a band of courageous men and women from around the world - israel looks increasingly isolated and impotent - the cause of justice in Palestine wins more international support - Bibi tries to put a positive spin on his crimes - He looks increasingly pathetic
He is braindead, Israel needs STRONG friends
Then why the he!! did you not ease the blockade before the international community forced you to do this? You have strengthened Hamas and weakened Israel. Israel has no friends left in the world, other than the diaspora which blindly supports Israel, .
I have long suspected that Netanyahu lives in a world, created out of his own "spin", that he hasn't the foggiest idea what the word "real" means
politicians with VISION. A vision for the future of Israel. Bibi has none and frankly, his competitors have no vision either.
So till now he wanted to strengthen Hamas!
you absolutely right!
you absolutely right!
Lincoln's blockade of the Confederacy to prevent the import of European weapons was crucial to the Union victory. The same was true for the Allied blockade of Nazi Germany and Japan.
America declined to export certain items to these nations, but there was never a blockade, American or otherwise. I recommend you base your spin on facts if you want to raise your credibility.
Imposing the blockade was supposed to weaken Hamas. Now easing the blockade is supposed to weaken Hamas. The fact is that Hamas and Hizbollah are stronger than ever before. Their mission is to keep their heads down and await a combined effort at some time in the future. I wonder what it can be.
If you want friends, be friendly, as somebody wrote yesterday.
Natalie..What is "their mission" ...What might that "combined effort" be?? Are you smiling when you think of what it might be. I hope not..cuz i fear they are not looking for the opportunity to say..OK..now the time is ripe for an agreement with israel..but rather..now the time is ripe for more unrest..more pain..more retaliation back and forth ..with the Palestinian people getting the brunt of the punishment.
ISraels biggest mistake was giving up the Philadelphi corridor which would have been teh lynchpin in preventing smuggling. All the humanitarian goods could cross by land and all teh weapons choked off through p[hiladelphi. Big mistake giving back gaza look what the palis have turned it into now. One of the worlds largest weapons depot in the world. Pity the palis have money for bombs and not enough for food. Goes to show you wher the priorities are
Talk about giving in......
But we lost it when we stubbornly continued to impose this all exaggerated embargo/blockage/collective punishment..
nice spin mr. Nethanjahu, but ofcourse, it really weakens Israel.
THIS is what strenghtens Hamas!