Netanyahu to Haaretz: Palestinians seem to be backing down
In an exclusive interview, prime minister answers to critics and hints at a return to peace negotiations.
By Ari Shavit Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu Middle East peace Israel newsBenjamin Netanyahu, a year into your term, observers seem to agree: You're an impressive survivor, but just a survivor. The government you lead has no vision, no destination. It's not going anywhere.
"That is completely and utterly unfounded. My vision is of an Israel that is a world technological superpower, anchored in values, reaching peace from strength. To this end, we are working to jump-start the economy, to augment our security and to strengthen Israel through inculcating basic national values. I see all this as part of an economic, educational and cultural revolution that is just beginning.
"Your criticism partly stems from the fact both Palestinians and Syrians have adopted a strategy of unwillingness to negotiate. They present us with extremist preconditions that they did not present to earlier Israeli governments. I don't know any other government in the world that would enter negotiations under conditions that determine in advance how they should conclude. The critics expect us to accept the Palestinian and Syrian dictates; they describe the acceptance of those dictate as a vision. I don't see it as a vision. The vision is to empower Israel economically, militarily and culturally so as to enable it to make true peace with its neighbors. Not peace on paper, rather peace that will last.
"It will take time for the Palestinians and Syrians to retreat from the positions they have taken. I think the Palestinians, at least, may be backing down. There are signs that negotiations with them will begin in the foreseeable future."
Today, the cabinet met in Tel Hai to launch a program involving restoration of historical sites. Many see this plan as ridiculous and anachronistic. They say it's irrelevant to the present-day problems facing Israel.
"Yigal Alon once said that a people that doesn't know its past cannot be certain of its future. In the storm that is sweeping societies and states across the globe, a process of cultural superficiality is taking place: The dominant global culture is endangering the cultures of smaller nations. Our problem is particularly acute. We are living in this country because we are linked to it; we were exiled, and we have returned. There's no people that needs to deepen its roots in its land more than we do. That is why I believe national security doesn't only depend on military and economic might, but also on enhancing the young generation's knowledge of our past, and strengthening its connection to our land. These are the values I was raised on. These are values familiar to any Israeli over the age of 40. And they are the values that must be renewed today.
"David Ben-Gurion believed the foundation of our nation-building involved studying the Bible, walking the land and preserving archaeological sties. These values have been eroded over the last 30 years, and we are trying to stop that process. Among other things, this involves preserving our cultural treasure troves: Hebrew songs, Jewish and Hebrew writings, films, plays that have been videoed, photographic archives. These assets are being depleted, lost. I don't think it's ridiculous or anachronistic to try and save them. I don't think there's a contradiction between being open to the world, and preserving our culture and imparting it to our youth. The Americans know how to appreciate the Lincoln Memorial, the Gettysburg National Cemetery and the Alamo site in Texas, but this does not affect their openness to technological innovation.
"I'll give you an example. [Tel Aviv's] Rothschild Boulevard is a thriving street of cafes and bars, of innovative street shows and 'White Night' festivals. I think it's wonderful. But at No. 16 Rothschild Boulevard, there's a peeling old hall where Ben-Gurion announced the establishment of the State of Israel. Why not renovate and reopen it? Why not allow the young people who are out having fun on the boulevard to go inside and see what it represents? I'm certain they would like that. This is why I see the resolution we made today as one of the most important in many years."
Which of the sites slated for renovation are you particularly fond of?
"Tel Hai, obviously. My father arrived at Rosh Pina in 1920, and in 1923 he broke his arm playing soccer. He was treated in the beautiful old hospital in Safed by the same physician who treated Trumpeldor, and he and others told my father of the famous words that Trumpeldor uttered before he died - probably based on the Latin phrase: dolce et decorum est pro patria mori. I think the spirit of sacrifice embodied by Tel Hai is still just as vital today, not so that we will die, but so that we can live."
There's another plan you are going to present to the cabinet this week - not about historical legacies but about transportation. You intend to pave roads and build railroad tracks on an unprecedented scale. Why spend money that we don't have on asphalt and concrete?
"It's not that much money. We're talking about some NIS 30 billion over 10 to 15 years. In terms of our gross national product, this is quite manageable. The country has been concentrated for 60 years between Gedera and Hadera, with one main transportation corridor 'copied' along Highway No. 6. The Negev and the Galilee are off the map. Both economically and in terms of the expansion of the population and closing gaps, there's tremendous importance to integrating the north and south in the transportation network.
"The United States carried out a similar revolution twice: first in the 19th century, with trains, and then in the 1950s, with highways. This is why you can hit the road in Boston and reach Los Angeles without stopping at a single traffic light. In Israel, you can't go from Kiryat Shmona to Tel Aviv without waiting at lights. This is what we're going to change. We won't just bring the center to the north: We'll bring the north to the center.
"We'll increase local tourism, increase employment, but most importantly, we'll facilitate social mobility. Look at the revolution happening in Yokneam and Or Akiva, which were seen as God-forsaken places until they started blooming thanks to nearby highways, rail lines or intersections. Together with the Israel Land Administration reform and the reforms in planning and construction, the new routes will encourage faster growth, open up opportunities and free us from being stuck between Gedera and Hadera."
Wouldn't it be better to invest the money in education? NIS 30 billion could revolutionize elementary, high school and university education.
"We'll be investing in education, too. But it's important to understand that investing in transportation infrastructure creates growth. We believe it will contribute enormous resources and add some 2 percent to annual growth, creating new budget sources to fund education, health and welfare for the elderly. Investment in roads is a prime growth engine. Together with our other recent moves, it will help increase the size of the national pie, which we can then divide up according to different needs: security, education and society. At the end of the day, in one year we've done more to promote our vision than many other governments."
I won't ask you about Dubai, of course. But I'll ask you this: Would you say that today you still have the same faith in the Mossad and its chief?
"I won't comment on journalistic speculation, even from such an esteemed journalist as Ari Shavit."
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. |
| Photo by: (Limor Edri) |
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Then Israel certainly doesn't need the $60 billion of US aid over the last ten years. We'd like our money back.
Shavit says bibi has no vision. Well Shavit and verter's man olmert had a vision and israel was on the receiving end of 10,000 rockets and death and maiming. Also, Olmert offered a fire sale of west bank and golan in return for we will sit and talk and life will be fun. give me a break. Ask the 1 million israelis in the south of vision and they will telll you that they prefer bibi and lieberman vision rather than the pacificist, pathetic oslo version of shavit which won't work with arabs because they want all of israel.
I did
I doubt Israel has ever had more people looking for real justification for its actions. This guy isn't fooling anyone. If winning the worlds poorest people is a merit to Netanyahu, he needs to get a real job.
CM,I am just refer to the palestinians enigma ! Bibi is a much for them all ! Israel is blessed by him !
How do you say 'Burger King', 'Kentucky Fried Chicken', McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Shawarma, Felafel, Hummus, Kebab etc. etc. Get my meaning???
Every American and Israeli leader must make their "peace attempt". Usually, this consists of nothing but talk. As long as Israel profits by avoiding peace and pays no penalty for it, they will continue to do so. Who can blame them? The American leadership is to weak and unconcerned to want to take on the Jewish Lobby. This means that the talks are always held in bad faith and are nothing more than a photo op for America and Israel. The Palestinians do not profit from this charade and are tired of being played for fools.
Bibi you are awesome... Keep it up... You will probs be the second PM in Israel History to serve a full term! Best thing about it is, by that time America will have a Republican back in Power... And together they will force the pals to finally accept peace... They(pals/Arabs) seem to forget who won the wars and think they can dictate the terms of peace...
Sometimes waiting is good enough, but with Israel it is far from just waiting. Look how Israel succeeds to turn even problems in opportunities(second Lebanon war had as result a tremendous boost to Israel technology,Iron dome which will in turn transfor in good business), the 'New Way' project can make Israel first country oil independent. Google purchasing Israely start up's is anything except only wait and see. I am all ears to see what INTEL israel do about the iPad revolution. Bibi is right Israel HAS future.
"Do they ask how high when you say "jump"; Bibi ? Do they sit up and beg ? etc. Mark of Leiston. Of course not, because they are not talking !
If you know your history there is no need to convince you, that Arabia concured most of the world including Spain, where they stayed for 800 years (the Moors), does that make them the indigenous people of Spain. Now if you follow archeology every single piece found in the Holy land has either Jewish or Roman inscription on it, hence the 2000 years Holy scriptures. Visit the Jerusalem Museum it will offer you an archeological display of the true indigenous people.
Is peace necessary if it is not in the horizon ! "...The government you lead has no vision, no destination etc.." Ed Some times 'just a survivor' is good enough ! No one can make the sun shine every day ! The palestinians backed by 75% of the world oil gives them a long milage to go are doing nothing but waiting or perhaps stagnating ! What Israel is supposed to do more than wait ? They might get themselves waking up in the coming August when the settlements freeze ends. And may be not ! The timing of this conflict is 100% in the hands of the palestinians ! And who are the palestinians that one can talk to ? Netanyah is the General who is waiting for the enemy to make the next move ! Many great generals in history did that !
Bibi grew better with age. I used to dislike him, now I am amazed with stature Bibi took on. He is an only politician that has a vision and knows ways to make it happend. Technological excellence, state of art infrastructure, competitive economical rules, spirit of belonging and pride - those are the right policies. What's is more Bibi does push things in directions he announced. Respect!!!
Does he mean that, under US pressure, they will nominally endure loaded low-level talks about loaded low-level details? It is the statement of an intransigent politician pandering to the nationalist half of his domestic audience, a latter-day Milosevic. I've had cats and dogs with more vision. The reality is he's just an old Zionist, Eretz Israel clone who sees land theft and ethno-religious triumphalism in the WB as the key to re-election and personal power. He has nothing to offer on Palestine but a string of intransigent, impossible demands. The fact that Israel's reputation - based on illegal occupation, illegal land theft, illegal settlement, oppression of occupied people, war crimes, state extra-judicial murder, contravention of UN resolutions, lies and overwhelming arrogance - is in the international gutter matters not a jot to him. He will be one of history's lightweight footnotes.
May Hashem protect you Avi and protect the best leader Israel ever had, with brain and vision. I'm sure many countries will be willing to adopt him, including the US. But guess what he is ours, just watch the next elections, this man with Lieberman will sweep the country. The Arabs have more respect for him than any other leader, because he knows their true intentions.
Israel is in a position where it needs to indicate to the Palestinians that it's seriously undertaking the peace initiatives which are essentially based on UN Resolutions 242 and 338, and ceasing settlements development in the West Bank should have been so. It's not a matter of setting preconditions of " how they should conclude", which PM Netanyahu seems to have an idea, but perhaps his coalition members don't, it's a matter of committing to the obligations Israel has signed unto, that is, the Road Map supported by the Quartet. With regards to the other issues of historical restoration of Israeli sites and infrastructure development of roads, the need for societies to have knowledge of the past to appreciate the present and plan for the future - that's indication of a responsible government, but on the diplomatic end we're still unconvinced as of yet. But we'll see soon.
Netanyahu is good at talking about a glorious future and evading the crucial issues of the Arab-Israeli conflict. He thinks that peace talks will resume very soon. But what will he offer in return for a real, full peace ? A few scraps of land and the removal of a some checkpoints ? Keep on dreaming. He is a liability to Israel.
Not an interview, just a love-in. Complete waste of time.
Mr Netanyahu drones on and on about trivial issues, mostly of an economic nature. But he ignores an Issue central, possibly, to Israel's economic and military development (prior to its destruction by its enemies). Recently there was an article suggesting that elements of the former KGB are holding a collection of ancient documents, supposedly worth billions (though news reports were deliberately vague). It seems reasonable to assume that during his meeting in Moscow, with Putin (or whoever is in charge now), he met with former KGB people who probably made veiled offers to sell the material. Was there a dispute over the price? Or has Bibi switched sides, and is now working for the Russians?
You don't get much dumb and dumber than those two. Oh, sorry, I'm wrong. I forgot Lieberman.
to cite Bertrand Russel: "The megalomaniac differs from the narcissist by the fact that he wishes to be powerful rather than charming, and seeks to be feared rather than loved. To this type belong many lunatics and most of the great men of history."
itage ? Do you think Vatican isn't caring enough? Or that your beloved Muslims don't treat the Christian heritage respectfully enough ?
I think actually he is the only person capable of bringing the various tribes of Israel to an agreement.
Nothing they do can succeed. Israel grows stronger each day and the pals have painted themselves into a corner. No one cares about the pals or their false claims to the land of Israel. The pals should be embarrassed by their own limitless failures. They should also be aware that no one has any sympathy for terrorists. And, there is a war on terror and of terrorists. The pals, and Syria and Iran, all lose on these fronts as well.
Protection from slimy passport/ID thieves? We saw the image of an elderly Jewish Israeli gentleman on our TV today. Michael Bodenheimer, a religious Torah studying, gentle looking person. Has Mr Netanyahu issued any statements denouncing the theft of his citizen's personal passport/ID, used by the Dubai assassins?
This man pretends he is reaching everything. The only thing he does is blocking any real prospect.
and that's religion or ideology. Here's where the secular get off because they haven't a clue. That's why only a non-secular Israel leader will have the only key that fits a middle east solution.
He says "I don't know any other government in the world that would enter negotiations under conditions that determine in advance how they should conclude."...guess who is he talking of???
defeat to Israel. That is obviously is a vision the people of Israel did not choose share or to follow. Olmert's corruption and incompetence and Livni's many failures and lack of real leadership was not the vision the people wanted. It came to a choice of ' the lessor of two evils' . Kadima and Livni have both been soundly rejected by the majority of Israelis !
Israel will never find peace or prosperity while it covets the land of the Palestinians, presently occupying 77% of the original land of Palestine to 23% beyond the green line and in Gaza. The Green Line is the last straw, Mr. Netanyahu. All that is beyond it is off limits, no less than Ecuador and Bolivia are off limits to Jewish annexation. Do yourself, and your people, and the whole world a favour - and respect the rights of the indigenous people of Palestine - the Palestinians. Do that first. Security comes second. In fact, security without that first priority is worse than worthless, it is a dangerous illusion, leading to global war.
Shavit and Bibi loving up over the Dubai fisaco? Embarrassing and frankly nauseating. Or why doesn't Shavit challenge any of the ususal self-serving hasbara rubbish? Wht not query Nuttyhaoo's hardline Zionist plan on heritage? It's clearly just an attempt to prop up a crumbling Jewish ethnoccracy, with no reference to Israel's Muslim or Christian heritage whatsoever. And what about Netanyahu's boast that the Pals are backing down? What's the point of that? Juat an appetmpt by the Pals' colonial masters to rub their faces in it? Or an attempt to sabotage the peace talks entirely? Or does Netanyahu not care about anything as long as he can remian Prime Minister?
Not "we're getting closer in seeing eye to eye,' but "they're backing down." Netanyahu must be taking diplomacy lessons from Lieberman and Ayalon. Do they ask how high when you say "Jump," Bibi? Do they sit up and beg? Will they take the sofa without legs?