Netanyahu warns outcome of Egypt revolution could be like Iran's
Netanyahu meets with German chancellor to discuss Egypt crisis, Mideast peace; Merkel says Israel must freeze settlements to move peace process forward.
By Reuters and Barak RavidWhat happened in Iran could happen in Egypt, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday after meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The German chancellor, who arrived in Israel earlier in the day, told Netanyahu during the meeting that it was especially important to move the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians forward in light of the unrest in Egypt.
In Israel's neighboring Egypt, demonstrations and riots have continued unabated for almost a week straight. Netanyahu and Merkel reportedly spent a large amount of time during their meeting discussing the unrest.
Netanyahu expressed fears that a radical Islamic regime like the one in Iran could also come to power in Egypt.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with German Chancellor Angela Merkel before a meeting in Jerusalem on Jan. 31, 2011. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
"Our real fear is of a situation that could develop ... and which has already developed in several countries including Iran itself -- repressive regimes of radical Islam," said Netanyahu.
Netanyahu continued, adding that although the protests may not be motivated by religious extremism, "in a situation of chaos, an organized Islamist body can seize control of a country. It happened in Iran. It happened in other instances".
Merkel defended the Western reaction to the protests in Cairo against criticism in Israel that the United States and Europe were dumping a loyal ally.
"I don't think that we've left Egypt in the lurch," she said, adding that she had spoken with Mubarak by telephone on Sunday. "We talked ... about where there are deficits, for example in connection with human rights and press freedoms and electoral law ... and employment for young people," Merkel said.
The German chancellor continued, "you can't divide your principles and say my principles are valid for some countries, where you can speak your mind and vote freely, but in other countries these principles don't hold at all."
During the meeting, Merkel called on Netanyahu to stop settlement building in the West Bank, which she said is hurting the peace process.
Peace talks initiated by the United States grinded to a halt in September after a 10 month freeze on West Bank settlement building expired. Attempts to restart the talks have since failed, with the Palestinians insisting that they won't negotiate without a complete settlement freeze. Israel has meanwhile insisted that they are ready to continue negotiations, but they are waiting for the Palestinians to return to the table.
Netanyahu responded to Merkel by saying that settlements were not an obstacle to peace, adding that settlement building under his government has decreased greatly in comparison to previous governments. He also said that it was up to the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table and renew peace talks.
Senior officials in Merkel's office have said recently during closed door briefings that the chancellor will be very tough with Netanyahu and will use the meeting as a chance to tell him that it is his responsibility to renew the peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
Merkel arrived in Israel on Monday as part of the third round of talks in an ongoing dialogue between the two countries.
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Much too little. Much too late. The world has changed.
That's what netanyahu wants everyone to think and that is what the right wing and zionist pundits want us to think. What is happening in Egypt has nothing to do with the situation that brought about the downfall of the Persian tyrant. Iran is Shi'ite, Egypt is not. Iran had its opposition well organised around a religous figure, with a long history of Shi'ite political upheaval. Egypt is a different case of a nation that wants to be heard, represented, recognised, a nation that no longer wants to be treated as a collective child. It is fed up with a dictatorial leader who takes his cues from the US and Israel, while neither does naything to advance the cause of the people. Israel has a choice and the Arab world knows it. Recognition and toleration but in order for that to continue it must end its arrogant policies of expansionism and settlements making a Palestinian state an impossibility. It cannot exist in the region as a neighbour unless it acts like one and goes back to its borders which are recognised and ends the occupation. Egyptians do not want war anymore than Israelis but they want dignity and they want their voice to count. Mubarak was a dictator. Israel is an even bigger dictator and it must become a nation that is willing to live as a neighbour in the neighbourhodd and not a bully always ready to humiliate and mock.
Bibi is not stupid, the game is over & he is trying to make new enemies to keep his seat firm, just like Mubarak did... come on Bibi
could happen in Egypt.... which is like what happened in Iran except different religions...
Not Jewish anyway! Stop talking rubbish about "stolen arab land". Israel is for ever the Jewish homeland! All of it! If these "palestinians" want a land of their own. Its simply to accept the fine offer to build a state in WB and gaza. Drop the absurd demands for part of Jerusalem the Jewish capitol. Also arabs stay in this new country and stop attacking Israel, or take the consequences!
But the CDU sadly gave up those positions in the early 1990s. Against what international law actually says.
The Arab street has drunk of the intoxicating elixir of power. They will no longer be satisfied with crumbs. The price of peace and equanimity for Israel has just increased exponentially. That most unacceptable and dreaded of outcomes must now be considered with a view toward managing the eventuality. Eretz Yisrael with an Arab majority.
My little Robert , worse case can be a new war with Israel, Israel will take Sinai again, but this time for eternity. Sweet dreams
Abbas and Erekat should go to some unknown place as far from Netanyahu as possible for at least 6 months. Let the US team work on Hamas-Fatah unification.
Where does Merkel get off telling Israel to freeze the 'settlements'? Suppose after WWII some of Germany had been left in the hands of the French who settled there after the decimation of the German populace during WWII. Does that mean that the relocated French would have the right to claim that part of Germany for their own? Or annex it to France at some point in the future? Of course not! And, neither do the non-Jewish 'settlers' of arab/muslim descent have any right to any part of Israel. It's all Israel and it's all for the Jews!
You should seriously consider learning something about international law, how territories are allowed to change from one country to another and how not. You got a lot to learn.
Nice try. Calling the indigenous arab population 'settlers' is laughable. Your example doesn't make any sense and has no relevance here. You can make up scenarios all you want, but the truth remains- Israeli settlers are illegally building settlements in occupied territory (illegal according to international law- there is no dispute here).
350,000,000 Arabs and 1,250,000,000 Moslems thank you for making the choice so clear.
"Does that mean that the relocated French would have the right to claim that part of Germany for their own? Or annex it to France at some point in the future? Of course not!" Brilliant argument proving that Israel has no right to the West Bank and that all the settlements there are illegal. Nice one, Pratt!
... obviously. A child of five knows that. But Merkel's toughness on the settlments could mean that Europe's declaration of Palestine will also include a reference to the borders of 1967. Let us see what will happen in the coming few days.
"WE have no problem with it", right?
Why is it that some world leaders are more concerned with Jews building houses than with Iran building a bomb?
israel must make a peace treaty with the palestinians because the egyptians are going to break their peace treaty with israel, so that when the palestinians are ready to break their treaty, they are 2 minutes from walking into tel aviv and already inside jerusalem. somebody needs to tell merkel to shove it.
You need to take a STRONG condemnation of settlements and confiscating of arab land, and be independent of US policy. Stop being a follower to US policy, which is totally controlled by AIPAC.
Has come for Netanyahu to know that those sleepelss 7 nights he spent worrying about the future of the peace treaty with Egypt and then comes out today in support of Mubarak is shortsighted at best. Mubarak and his family has amassed $23BLN stolen from the poor Egyptians and those monies will be frozen and sent back to the people where they belong. Israel has to restructure its amrs forces to take into consideration a huge strategic shift in power. $billion will be spent on that and I hope that My country America and us Taxpayers would not have to foot the bill. I am sure next week Netanyahu will fly to Washington begging for our dollar. He should be told that he is not welcome unless he agrees to the peace process that we all know what it is. Peace is cheaper than war, trust me.
She might as well have been talking to the wall, so it seems!?!
Are no problem. They will all eventually end up in Palistine State.