WASHINGTON, D.C. — Only a strong Israel can attain peace, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in Washington, D.C., last week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netabyahu addressed the General Assembly last week.
“But even a strong Israel is a small Israel,” he told more than 3,000 people Nov. 9 at the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly.
“The U.S. and Canada are roughly 400 times each the size of Israel. The Arab world is 500 times the size of Israel. Even Jordan is almost four times as big,” he said. “Because of our small size and the radical and violent neighbourhood in which we live, Israel faces security threats like that of no other nation.”
During his speech, Netanyahu outlined several of his goals for Israel, which included stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, decreasing Israel’s dependence on oil and signing a peace deal with the Palestinians.
“Peace between Israel and our Arab neighbours… would spare our children the horrors of war,” he said, adding that he’s willing to negotiate with Palestinian leaders.
“I want to make this clear: my goal is not negotiation for negotiation’s sake. My goal is to reach a peace treaty, and soon,” he said.
Netanyahu’s vision of peace includes a demilitarized Palestinian state and a Jewish state recognized by the Palestinian government, he said.
“Even after we achieve peace, it may take years for the spirit of peace to permeate most levels of Palestinian society… Any peace agreement we sign today must include iron-clad security measures.”
Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, speaking the next day, said that U.S. President Barack Obama understands Israel’s position and will stand by the country.
“As the president said in Cairo, Egypt, the bond of the United States and Israel is unbreakable,” he said.
Obama was supposed to speak at the GA, but Emanuel spoke in his place after Obama withdrew to attend a memorial service for the 13 people killed by a gunman at the U.S Army base in Fort Hood, Texas.
Obama met with Netanyahu and a group of leaders from the Jewish Federations last Monday. According to Emanuel, it was “a very positive meeting.”
“I’m absolutely confident that Prime Minister Netanyahu understands deeply the strategic importance of moving this peace process forward,” Emanuel said.
An essential part of the peace process is negotiation without preconditions, Emanuel added.
In his speech, he addressed concerns among some observers that the Obama administration is not supportive of Israel.
“There are those who would question that this administration has sought to… open up dialogue with Israel’s neighbours and with Muslim nations around the world,” he said, mentioning the fear that this will come at Israel’s expense.
“That is not the intent, and that is not the case and never will be,” he said. “It is just the opposite, for it is only through dialogue that we can achieve [the] lasting peace that Israel seeks.”
