The Truth Hurts, Bibi; Obama Is Right When He Says Netanyahu Shoots Israel in Foot
By Leonard Fein
Published January 22, 2013, issue of January 25, 2013.
So now we have the journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, presumably based on conversation(s) with officials of the Obama administration, perhaps with the president himself, quoting Obama: Israel doesnt know what its own best interests are. And then, with each new settlement announcement Netanyahu is moving his country down a path toward near-total isolation.
Needless to say, Benjamin Netanyahu reacted to the report testily. An aide said that Netanyahu would continue to resist pressure from America and other countries and would make no compromise that will harm its citizens security. Netanyahu himself responded trenchantly: I think that President Obama knows that the ones determining Israels vital interests are the citizens of Israel, and they will be the ones to choose who will protect those interests in the best possible way.
And how does the prime minister define Israels interests? In an interview with Israel Hayom in the wake of the Goldberg column, he cites three main objectives: Preventing Iran from arming themselves with nuclear weapons, not going back to the indefensible 1967 borders, and keeping Jerusalem united. These are fundamental objectives.
We learn as much from what the prime minister failed to say as from what he did say. He failed to say anything about a two-state solution. And the reason for that is clear: He is opposed to a two-state solution that is, to a two-state solution that allows for a viable Palestinian state with contiguous territory.
Read more: http://forward.com/articles/169667/the-truth-hurts-bibi/?p=all#ixzz2IinR9QtR