8:10PM IL: Speaking from the Begin-Sadat Center in Bar Ilan University, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stressed that Israel has always yearned and strived for peace, pointing out the significance of the Begin-Sadat Center, “two leaders who yearned for peace”.

The prime minister cited the three main challenges, the Iranian threat, the global economic crisis and the yearning for peace. “We saw yesterday, the existential Iranian threat is still present”. He spoke of the fears that occur at the junction of extremist Islam and nuclear technology.

The administration is working to address the economic crisis.

The third challenge is advancing peace in the region, as I discussed with President Barak Obama, talking of a new era in the region, as I spoke with the president of Egypt and the king of Jordan.

The prime minister appealed to regional Arab leaders, to meet in any place and at any time, in Damascus, Riyadh and Beirut, and of course Jerusalem.

Netanyahu spoke of developing joint industrial parks and tourist attractions, to attract the masses, speaking of the regional tourism potential based on the rich archaeological realities in the region.

I turn to the leaders of the Palestinian Authority to immediately enter into negotiations to advance peace… that our children will no longer know war and loss.

…I took part in wars., I lost close friends and a brother. I saw the pain of bereaved families close, up front, many times. I do not want war. No one in Israel wants war.

If we join hands and embrace peace, success is immeasurable. We can provide the next generation a good life, a life of hope and opportunity.

Dear friends, with the obvious advantageous of peace, we must ask ourselves why peace is so far away. What is the cause of the dispute for over 60 years. In order to end the dispute, we must understand what the true cause is, what is at the heart of the ongoing long-term dispute.

…Today I will address the yearning for peace in the simplest of words and terms — the refusal to recognize Israel’s right to live in peace in the Jewish Homeland in the Middle East. In 1948, the Arab world would not recognize this reality. The conflict began in the 1920s of the previous generation, and not the result of settlements.

We evacuated the Jewish community of Gaza, to the last centimeter, and to date, we have received rockets. Hamas in the south is the same as Hezbollah in the north. The withdrawals have not changed the basic problem.

Israel is the homeland of the Jewish People and this is how it will remain. To achieve peace, we need courage and integrity from both sides, not just from the Israelis. The Palestinian leadership must stand up and announce enough conflict and openly recognize Israel’s right to exist. I am waiting for these words. Once they are uttered, it will open the door to resolve all the conflict, whatever they may be.

The problem of Palestinian refugees must be resolved outside the borders of the State of Israel for otherwise, it negates the existence of the Jewish State. The problem must be resolved and we wish to see this too, as we did with ourselves. The tiny state of Israel absorbed Jews from around the world, defying the odds, and on the same basis, the Palestinian refugee problem must be resolved, but outside our borders. I believe with foreign investment, this can be accomplished.

I have spoken of the Palestinian obligation to recognize us, and now regarding our responsibility to recognize the Palestinian right. The prime minister quotes Biblical historical right to the land, including Yehuda and Shomron. Throughout the years of golus we have endured suffering and pogroms. Some say if not for the suffering, the state would not have been established but I say if it had come in time, the Holocaust may not have taken place. We have a right to maintain our homeland here on our biblical soil, it is our given right.

…We must state the entire truth and that includes that in the heart of our homeland there is a Palestinian population. We do not wish to rule over them or impose our flag on them. There must be two nations, side-by-side, each with his flag, people and anthem. Our connection to the land and the Palestinians who live here have brought about this conflict but in reality, there is more that unites us… we must also acknowledge international realities.

I have already stood on the first point, that the PA must acknowledge out existence. The second point is the PA state must be established in such a way that it does not jeopardize our existence. We do not want missiles landing in Israel. As such, to ensure peace, we must make certain the Palestinians cannot import weaponry, establish and army, or sign treaties with nations such as Iran. A PA state must be demilitarized, for is not, we will have a Hamastan in our midst. If the PA recognizes Israel’s right to exist, then we can move ahead. A demilitarized PA nation alongside Israel living in peace. The settlers are not an enemy. They too want to live a normal life. The PA must decide between Israel or Hamas. Israel will not sit at the negotiating table with those who wish to destroy us. Hamas is not even willing to permit the Red Cross to visit our soldier, Gilad Shalit, who has been in captivity for three years, away from his family. We are committed to bringing Gilad home alive and well.

With the participation of the Arab nations and support of the United States, we can bring peace.

The prime minister continues by stating many of the accomplishments and technology brought to the world by Israel.

I call to the Arab world and Palestinian leadership to continue on the path of Begin and Sadat, Rabin and Hussein (King of Jordan), then going to quote the prophet Isaiah.

In short the prime minister states he sees two nations, side-by-side, each with his own flag and people.

The prime minister by most accounts has satisfied the White House’s demands and thereby appears to have headed off a breakdown in relations with the White House. The words were well chosen, vague and ambiguous at times, supporting a PA entity, albeit demilitarized, which will not be objectionable to the White House. Regarding settlers, he said they wish to live “a normal life” and he calls on the PA and the Arab nations to recognize Israel’s right to exist and enter into peace negotiations immediately.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)