Bayit HaYehudi leader Naftali Bennett released statements on Wednesday 5 Shevat 5773 regarding reports the White House is less than pleased with the Netanyahu administration. Bennett was referring to the Bloomberg column by Jeffrey Goldberg in which US President Barak Obama is quoted as saying privately “Israel doesn’t know what its own best interests are.”

Bennett commented over reported growing White House concerns over the increasing popularity of his party, especially regarding his party’s view regarding the future of Yehuda and Shomron and negotiations with the PA (Palestinian Authority).

Bennett wrote on his Facebook page “We will listen to the Americans but we will do what is good for Israel.” He stressed that American remains an extremely important ally but nevertheless, “we must first do what is best for Israel.”

He cited that back in 1994 when Israeli handed over control of areas in Yehuda and Shomron to the PA (Palestinian Authority), the terrorist bombings in Tel Aviv, Beit Lid and other areas began. This move, relinquishing sovereignty over those areas was carried out under heavy pressure from the United States. He added that the [Second] Camp David talks between Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat preceded the second intifada, and that led to the murder of over 1,000 Israelis.

“Then we handed over Gaza to the PA, and as a result of US pressure, the Philadelphi Route, and we received thousands of rockets in return.”

The Bayit Yehudi leader explained that Israel should respect the US, but any country must protect its own security interests “above all”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)