Letters
Netanyahu Hit The Nail On The Head
18 June 2009
Dear Sir
Benjamin Netanyahu's recent speech which endorsed, in principle, a demilitarised Palestinian state, was a triumph of realism and moral clarity. In a telling rebuttal to President Obama, he rejected the claim that Israel's legitimacy rested primarily on a history of persecution. Instead it was the Jewish attachment to the land over more than three millennia which provided ample historical justification. Unlike Obama, he also refused to draw any false equivalence between the Israeli and Palestinian narratives. The reason for this conflict was quite simply 'the (Arab) refusal to recognise the right of the Jewish people to a state of their own in their historic homeland'. Thus before further Israeli withdrawals, which would merely give oxygen to extremists, the Palestinians had to end terror and incitement while strengthening governance and the rule of law. They also had to do two things that had thus far eluded the Palestinian Authority: recognise Israel as a Jewish state and reject the Palestinian 'right of return'. Now we all have the 'moderate' Palestinian response. Israel's Prime Minister stands accused of 'burying the peace process' and destroying 'all initiatives and expectations.' Palestinian officials are outraged that they should recognise Israel as a Jewish nation or settle refugees in their own state. There are even calls to resume the intifada. No reaction better vindicates Netanyahu's point about why this conflict persists today.
Yours sincerely
Jeremy Havardi
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