statism watch

The peacemaker speaks.

Update (2009/4/1): Netanyahu: We may be forced to attack Iran

CBC News
March 31, 2009

Knesset votes 69-45 in favour of Netanyahu’s picks

Benjamin Netanyahu, introducing his government to the Israeli parliament Tuesday, said peace with Palestinians is possible but spoke out against “radical Islam” and issued a veiled warning to Iran.

Netanyahu’s chosen ministers were confirmed by the Knesset later Tuesday in a 69-45 vote. Following the vote, the 28 new ministers took their oaths of office while Netanyahu is set to formally take over the prime minister’s post from Ehud Olmert on Wednesday.

Prior to being sworn in, Netanyahu told the Knesset he will seek a broad peace with the Muslim world, comments that appeared to advance his efforts to calm international concerns that he will end peace efforts.

“I say to the Palestinian leadership that if you really want peace we can achieve peace,” he said.

He praised Islamic culture as “great and rich” and called on the Palestinians to “fight terror” and said he would pursue a final peace deal with them.

“Under the permanent status agreement, the Palestinians will have all the authority necessary to rule themselves,” he said.

Palestinians seek commitment

But he did not elaborate, drawing calls from the Palestinians to firmly commit to give them independence.

“The only way the Palestinians can rule themselves by themselves is through ending the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and establishing an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital that will live side by side in peace and security with the state of Israel,” said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.

Netanyahu also said last week that Israel will seek a peace agreement with the Palestinians, citing developing the economy is a “strong foundation for peace.”

But he warned that “radical Islam is trying to eradicate us,” noting that Israel is battling militant Islamic groups on its northern and southern borders.

“We are determined to block terrorism in every direction and fight it until the end,” he said.

“The greatest danger to humanity and our state of Israel stems from the possibility that a radical regime will arm itself with nuclear weapons,” he said, making an implicit reference to Iran. [Ed. Note: Radical police state regimes in the area already have nuclear weapons, and lots of them.]

Tone softening

Yisrael Beitenu Leader Avigdor Lieberman, who has stirred controversy with comments about Arabs and Egypt, is Netanyahu’s choice for incoming foreign minister.

Meanwhile, current Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak is set to hold his post in Netanyahu’s new government.

Netanyahu led his Likud party to a strong showing in last month’s parliamentary election by campaigning on a message that was harshly critical of the outgoing government’s peace efforts. He said the Palestinians were not ready for independence, and that he would limit his efforts to developing their economy while continuing Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank.

But since Netanyahu was asked to form a government last month, he has softened his campaign rhetoric in an attempt to build a broad, centrist coalition and ease international concerns about his agenda.

Netanyahu achieved the coalition needed to form a government through agreements with Yisrael Beitenu and Labour party Leader Ehud Barak that required the government to draft a comprehensive plan for Mideast peace, resume peace talks and commit itself to existing accords.

Netanyahu had tried unsuccessfully to draw the centrist Kadima party of outgoing prime minister Ehud Olmert into his government. But Kadima Leader Tzipi Livni appeared cool to the idea, even after the pact with Labour and Netanyahu’s pledge to pursue Palestinian peace talks.

With centre-left Labour in his corner, Netanyahu has a ruling majority of 66 seats in the 120-member parliament.

Source | See also: Israeli military whistleblowers: troops fired on children | Israel pulls land forces from Gaza, gunboats continue shelling coast | Israel admits troops used phosphorus shells in Gaza | Israel steps up Gaza withdrawal after ceasefire | Hamas joins fragile Israeli ceasefire | Israel declares ceasefire | Unusually Large U.S. Weapons Shipment to Israel | Video shows proof of phosphorous bombs in Gaza | Aid destroyed as UN’s Gaza HQ hit by Israeli fire | Protests over Israel’s Gaza offensive held in Canadian, world cities | Israel ignores ceasefire plea, pounds Gaza | UN relief agency halts aid to Gaza, citing Israeli attacks on staff | Rockets fired from Lebanon hit northern Israel | Israel is on its way to reoccupying all of the Gaza Strip | Israeli shelling kills dozens at UN school in Gaza | Tanks, rockets, death and terror: Gazan civilian catastrophe unfolding | They hate us for our bombs | Israeli army set for invasion | Food, medicine, fuel needed in Gaza, agencies warn | Gaza relief boat carrying former Congresswoman rammed by Israelis | Worldwide protests urge end to attacks on Gaza

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