Netanyahu proved Israel doesn't want peace
Netanyahu shows to the world that Israel wants neither an agreement nor a Palestinian state, and for that matter not peace, either.
By Gideon LevyOn Friday night Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again proved himself to be an excellent elucidator, this time in the service of the Palestinians: He demonstrated to the world, better than even Mahmoud Abbas, why they had no recourse but to appeal to the United Nations. If there is one clear take-home message from his Hezekiah and Isaiah speech, it is this: The Palestinians (and the world ) can no longer expect anything from Israel. Nothing.
Netanyahu was particularly persuasive when he explained that a Palestinian state would endanger Israel - narrow waist, just hundreds of meters from Israeli cities, thousands of rockets - one giant blah-blah that willfully ignores the possibility of peace. A Palestinian state, perhaps, but absolutely not in our time, and not in our school of thought.
Our school of thought seemed especially deluded Friday night. Every decent Israeli must be ashamed of their prime minister, who stands before the world and tries to sell it the same old shopworn, even rotten goods that are long past their expiration date, expounding on ancient, irrelevant chapters of history and attempting to market cheap sentimentality like a beggar who exposes his wounds, both real and imaginary, to passersby. And the beggar is in fact a regional power.
Netanyahu, peddler of emotions, did not shrink from or forget anything, save reality. Abraham the patriarch, Hezekiah, Isaiah, pogroms, the Holocaust, 9/11, the children, the grandchildren and, of course, Gilad Shalit - all fodder for the tear wringer that assuredly didn't bring forth a single tear anywhere on the planet, with the possible exception of a few Jewish nursing homes in Boca Raton, Florida. There, perhaps, people were still moved by this kitschy death speech.
Netanyahu needed thousands of years of history to obscure reality, but Abbas' sense of history proved to be much more developed: He had no need to call up distant memories to elicit sympathy; all he needed was to soberly depict current events in order to attempt to shape a new history. The world and the auditorium cheered for Abbas because he spoke like a 21st-century statesman, not like a co-opted archaeologist of centuries past. Abraham or Ibrahim, Hezekiah or Netanyahu, Benjamin or Jacob-Israel, Jew or Judea - our prime minister's Bible and Holocaust stories should have made Israelis sitting down to their Friday night dinner feel awkward and uncomfortable. Is that all we have to sell to the world? Is that all we have to say? Is that what is being said on our behalf? Is that what we look like?
The faces said it all. Sitting around the table of Netanyahu's cheerleading squad (all of them Ashkenazi men, of course ) were two kippa-wearers, two generals, two former Russians, three current beard-wearers - a depressing and threatening group portrait of Israel's extreme right, class of 2011. The table of the Israeli delegation, even more than Netanyahu himself, revealed the true face of the most denounced country in the world today, with the exception of Iran and North Korea. They clapped, politely and obediently, not including Avigdor Lieberman and his loyal servant, Daniel Ayalon.
Israel's real face was also seen in Israel; Lieberman wasn't the only one to call Abbas' judicious, impressive address an "incitement speech." Joining the chorus, as usual, was Tzipi Livni - the Israeli alternative - who "didn't like the speech."
What was there not to like about Abbas' speech, apart from his silly mistake in failing to mention the Jews, together with the Christians and Muslims, to whom this precious land belongs? What in his speech was anything but true and very painful? "Enough" of the occupation? Ethnic cleansing in Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley? Obstructing checkpoints on the way to the hospital, and settlements that are a barrier to peace? What was incorrect, damn it? "A difficult speech," the chorus of Israeli commentators sang immediately afterward; indeed, a difficult speech describing an even more difficult reality - but what do they know about reality? And not a soul asked: Why isn't Israel reciting the travelers' prayer for the Palestinians, for their journey to statehood.
On Friday night the final curtain fell on Netanyahu's masked ball of a two-state solution. Hiding behind the curtain are darkness and gloom. And in that lies an event of historical performance: It proved to the world that Israel wants neither an agreement nor a Palestinian state, and for that matter not peace, either. See you at the next war.
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Gideon....It would BIG time behoooove you to read a few non-left-wing history books of the world with foci on Chamberlain's "Peace in our time" and all of the post-Sumerian civilization and onward through today of a silly process called Real-Politik.
Levy must believe that Abbas says he wants Peace. However the price for Peace that Abbas means is that Jerusalem will be divided, the west bank will be free of Jews and Hamas will continue to bombard missiles not only from Gaza but from the west bank. Levy should learn from History!
This article was obviously written by Abbas
What is wrong with the defined property lines as a result of the war? What other country would defend the established lines established by rightly won (established ) lines. Lets be fair about this fact.
Thank you for telling the truth. There is hope in the world as long as someone is still telling the truth. .
This was vintage bibi cheap sentimentality. And blaming Israeli settlement activities and ethnic cleansing of Jerusalem on Islamic extremism? Classic bibi. Completely untrue, obviously. We got all the power, and it will remain that way. Let's be humans and stop oppressing them for not being Jewish.
"What was there not to like about Abbas' speech, apart from his silly mistake in failing to mention the Jews, together with the Christians and Muslims, to whom this precious land belongs?" Is this Levy serious??? That omission is not a mistake, it's his future plan and so everything is wrong with Abbas's speech if you're Israeli Jew Note. The Palestinian charter of 1968 calls for the elimination of almost all Jews from what they call Palestine
You just hit the nail on the head. This is the "Inside Story" of the Israeli intentions to prepare for more wars.
I heard Netanyahu's speech Friday night and heard the unequivacal opposite from what you heard! I heard he wanted peace with the Palestinians and was willing to negotiate any time, anywhere to achieve it. Your comments are biased by some unstated reason. The Bible references were excellent examples to which common people relate!! Don't knock Bibi, do something positive, yourself!
from a man who's been bragging about how he wilfully and willingly torpedoed the Oslo agreement, led Clinton by his considerable nose, and confirmed that the 2002++ incursion into the occupied territories had nothing to do with defense - as seen on Israeli TV last year. Now even Clinton calls him a warmongering brute.
In 1974 Yasser Arafat proved to the UN what a thug he was and the thuggish nature of his organization when he went to the Podium wearing a holster. In 2011, Netanyahu proved what he was, and what the nation he represents is. Netanyahu accused the UN, blamed the Nazis, blamed Iran, blamed the world and then stated he would negotiate for more autonomy but not a sovereign Palestinian or an end to settlement expansion.
It is quite suprising to read such an article from an Israeli journalist. Does´nt Netanyahu want peace? Of course he wants as every Israeli leader. The choices seem limited, but be confident on one thing: Israel has friends abroad who see its right to existence and peace. You Israelis should trust and support more your own leaders than Mahmoud Abbas!
I hate to brake the news to you that most of your neighbors don't want Jews in their backyard. Frankly,many are willing to kill each other just because they are a different Muslim sect. A peace agreement of paper wont change that.
netenyaho speech never impressed me enough to have tears .you did .iam from egypt and i say :god bless you .god keep you safe and happy together with your family. thank you
It is so typical of the kind of myths and distortions that he peddles: His grandfathers family name was Mileikovski. Netanyahu was a pen-name his grandfather invented and later adopted as his last name. So there is NO connection at all between Netanyahu's family and the ancient seal with the inscription 'Netanyahu'. How can he try to con the world in this way? The guy is totally shameless.
He did not once mention that "this precious land" belongs to any religion, let alone only to Christians and/or Muslims. He simply described it as a Holy Land, and then he mentioned two Holy Prophets: Muhammad and Christ. If the Jews have a prophet of similar status to those two then by all means name him, and then you can remind Abbas that he forget to give that Jewis Prophet a gong.
Many of us heard a totally different speech. It was one of brilliance. It was one that made complete sense. It was concise, it was rational and it was one full overtures of peace. Gideon must be thinking of Abbas's speech. Everything Bibi said was true and well said.
The Quartet plan promised more negotiations, not an agreement. Exactly what Israel wants, more time to steal more land.
“Netanyahu, peddler of emotions, did not shrink from or forget anything, save reality….. that assuredly didn't bring forth a single tear anywhere on the planet, with the possible exception of a few Jewish nursing homes in Boca Raton, Florida.” You are wrong mate. Your anger and even disillusion makes you imagine the whole world is carrying the same mindset as you. Israel has a right to exist. Yes, on their land. They may commit mistakes here and there, even atrocities being surrounded by countries that hope, pray and fight for their total annihilation. They get paranoid and sometimes act irrationally but this race of a few million people have weathered millennia of the same schemes still tried even today And they will weather this one. But for Abbas, how does he go on when at the same time stating, "Palestine will not recognize the state of Israel..."? Netanyahu said on the contrary, "If we find compromise, Israel will not be the last to recognize Palestine, we will be the first." I haven't heard any comments from you or many on search comments. Who really wants peace here????? Are you serious??
occurs when the demonstrators are engaging in very unpeaceful acts such as stone throwing, molotov cock-tail throws, attempts to penetrate protective barriers, etc. Please specify what you are alluding to?
But he did accuse all Palestinians of being Iranian controlled terrorists.
What peace proposal?
I bet a friend that the Holocaust would be in the speech, the call to appreciate Israel's victimhood. Sure enough, not once but several times. Not by name of course, just not so veiled references to it. No new ideas, no concrete plans, just more bs from the master. The Palestinians have brought maps and plans to the Israeli's who refuse to even respond. Same with the Arab Peace Plan. Thanks to modern technology, the world can hear something other than the usual Israeli narrative. As a result, world opinion is shifting. Israel has missed an opportunity for peace. What a shame.
Netanyahu's masterful oratory was a triumph offering an olive branch whereas Abbas said 'I want the Israelis to concede everything before I negotiate'. I count myself 'a decent Israeli and I was proud of this stateman in the right place at the right time. It's a rule of thumb that if Levy hates something it must be good for Israel and vice versa. Why doesn't he just pack up and move to Tehran now?
maybe he should move to West Bank, oops no jews allowed there :)
It's quite obvious that Israel is playing for time. America has said, "sit tight" we are going to take out as much of your enemies as possible and make them as weak as possible and then when the time comes, and big war takes place in the middle east, you can expand and establish greater Israel. That's why Bibi is quoting from the old testament.
You just hate Netaniahu. He made a wonderful lspeech, recognized all over the world. Thanks G'd you are just a nothing and you will continue to be a nothing.
If your'e impartial don't waist your time writing so stupidly. As I read The Independent, The Guardian, The New York Times and Haaretz daily, I find that the journalists like Robert Fisk, Gideon Levi, Amira Hass (and Haaretz in general) are journalists with a moral backbone and not biased like their NYT collegues.
Netanyahu's speech might have gone down well in Israel and with Christian fundamentalists in the US, but it didn't play well with the rest of the world. It was just embarassing to watch even the short cuts that were shown in the media.
Salute to your every sentence and word .... admire your courage and honesty....
...and furthermore - he discredited himself... it was dumb, unintelligent... i dont think the settlements are right, justified, but i believe, you can make a case for yourself, and tell to the public... you have points to make, even if you are wrong in the end... and i would find it very important, to make the points, not to get through with settlements, but to give the rest of the world a little understanding, a little bit of excuse, a sort of apology it would be even, and i also believe, everyone would appreciate to hear that... but bibi did the worst thing possible... talking about hezechial, the west bank "mountains, you know", even this ring... it was an embarrasing show, and harmful...
and the guy starts to talk about hezechiel... i mean, so it was at the UN... it was the UN... and intl audience of people, having studied law, finance, and things like that... hallo ?
You nailed it right
The best part about being a pundit is that you are under no obligation to write anything that takes reality into account. If Mr. Levy were actually in a position where his opinions made any difference, he would have to provide specific answers to three very difficult questions: (1) What are you prepared to offer the Palestinians that they have not been offered in the past? (2) What evidence do you have that the Palestinians are more likely to keep this agreement than any agreement they have signed in the past? (3) How do you propose to convince a majority of the Israeli public that your peace plan is workable when the Palestinians refuse to agree that an end of conflict / end of claims clause must be in any final agreement, or alternatively, how to you plan to convince a majority of the Israeli public that your peace plan is workable in the absence of an end of conflict / end of claims clause?
he recounted the situation just as it is-rockets,security concerns,lack of strategic depth. how can you discount these legitimate concerns? solve those and the country will be willing to compromise.
Abu Mazen, the Arab Nationalist terrorist with Jewish blood on his hands, is the new hero of the Israeli left. Anything for peace, even the destruction of Israel. Genocide. Ethnic Cleansing. Land theft. The Illegal Security Fence. All the things the left loves to believe are true.
mr. levi, you are out of your mind.
Bibi is busy doing the "twist" and shout. The consequence of which you dance alone. He should try the "waltz", this form of dance involves a partner, even hand-holding.
I loved the article, but come on, a mistake? I think it was quite intentional, playing to his home audience.
that it is the land of saints muhamad and jesus.to my knowledge there aren't jewish saints ,by definition in the jewish scripture and tradition there is only one saint which is the lord of the universe .
and highlighting the biblical connection to the homeland which, unfortunately, the Islamic radicals fail to comprehend why millions of Jews have this connection. They are the ones obstructing the PA's movement forward with the peace process core issues. That's why a third of the speech addresses this concern, whereas 25 years ago such a speech in the U.N. would not have addressed them because they didn't really matter - most weren't even born yet! But what PM Netanyahu fails to repeatedly see, despite advise from former security chiefs, that Israel needs a peace agreement based on the borders, more or less, to 1967, halting settlements construction and work towards confidence building for coexistence between the two peoples. However, it's somewhat doubtful his coalition partners have the effort or will to do all this, because so far it's all punitive measures which have led to the same spot - zero.
Except the same old tinny rhetoric, false historical analogies, and self-pity.
false historical analogies? we should ignore the fact that giving back land is suicidal?
Gideon Levy appears to be suffering from an advanced case of Stockholm Syndrome.
Loved the article. I watch Netanyahu at the UN and I couldn't believe his was dragging out all that biblical Old Testament stuff. What I don't get is what is the problem with stopping the settlement building if you really intend to give the land back. That's the sticker of course he doesn't and the PA knows it.
Great article... But you will not be able to print it in any of our American major media, because our editors are more Jewish than Israeli hardliners.