Netanyahu's honesty could be a boon - Democratic Underground

bemildred

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Tue Apr-28-09 06:19 PM
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Netanyahu's honesty could be a boon

The squealing on the Israeli and American left is making Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu out to be a minority radical, a warmonger among the majority progressives who want a just peace with the Palestinians.

In reality, the bad news - and the good - is that Netanyahu doesn't pretend to be a peacemaker.

Let's look at the record.

Colony construction, including the massive developments encircling Occupied Jerusalem, has continued for four decades. All of Netanyahu's predecessors - even the 'doves' - never once slowed colony construction despite their repeated assurances. Throughout, despite intensive US monitoring and reporting on growth, the US has always pretended to believe them.

http://www.gulfnews.com/opinion/columns/region/10308549.html

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varelse

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Tue Apr-28-09 07:04 PM
Response to Original message

1. Those wily Israeli "doves" - all this time, US policy had been dictated by their duplicity

In lifting the veil on Israeli policy and the criticism-stifling fiction of US-Israeli mutual interest, Netanyahu leaves the US open, finally, to voice and pursue its own positions and interests.

Finally, Washington can say, clearly and forcefully, that Israel's occupation harms US interests.

I'm skeptical - the US government has had ample opportunity to expose the truth "on the ground" in the occupied territories and to take a stand for our "best interests" so I can only assume that if we played along, it was to serve those interests - those of our privileged elite, as usual.

I'd rather not pretend to blame Israeli politicians for our own government's failure to support equal human rights for everyone in the region, or indeed to support our "best interests" here.

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Douglas Carpenter

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Sun May-03-09 10:07 AM
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2. I'm afraid I tend to agree. At least Netanyahu and Likud have been honest about their agenda.

At least we don't hear Likud claiming to support a two-state solution while relentlessly expanding, expanding and expanding thus making the two state solution increasingly implausible- like Kadima and Labour did for the past decades.

From Likud Platform:

http://www.knesset.gov.il/elections/knesset15/elikud_m.htm

"Self-Rule

The Government of Israel flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan river. "

"The Jordan River as a Permanent Border

The Jordan Valley and the territories that dominate it shall be under Israeli sovereignty. The Jordan river will be the permanent eastern border of the State of Israel. The Kingdom of Jordan is a desirable partner in the permanent status arrangement between Israel and the Palestinians in matters that will be agreed upon. "

"Settlements

The Jewish communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza are the realization of Zionist values. Settlement of the land is a clear expression of the unassailable right of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and constitutes an important asset in the defense of the vital interests of the State of Israel. The Likud will continue to strengthen and develop these communities and will prevent their uprooting. "

"
Jerusalem is the eternal, united capital of the State of Israel and only of Israel. "

http://www.knesset.gov.il/elections/knesset15/elikud_m.htm

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IndianaGreen

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Sun May-03-09 12:33 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. This is like saying that Hitler was honest on Mein Kampf

Calling Bibi honest is an absurd statement. He will talk peace, while continuing to build settlements. Bibi is not alone! Every prior government in Israel, Labour or Likud, has spoken words of peace while doing deeds of war and settlement expansion.

The current government of Israel is not a reliable partner for peace for the United States.

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Douglas Carpenter

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Sun May-03-09 01:16 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. the difference is that he does not claim to support the two-state solution

Edited on Sun May-03-09 01:16 PM by Douglas Carpenter

while Kadima and Labor do. All three of them engaged in relentless settlement expansion while claiming to support peace.

With Kadima or Labor the American government seemed to be content with the lip service paid to the two-state solution.

Nethanyahu removes the mask - at least somewhat. It is harder to perpetuate the charade without the pretense of support for the two-state solution.

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IndianaGreen

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Sun May-03-09 01:23 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. The only charade here is the one perpetrated on the American people

by the propaganda from the Israel Lobby and their whores in the political establishment. Most Americans still see Israel as the eternal victim, rather than the victimizer.

A binational state is the only practical solution.

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Douglas Carpenter

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Sun May-03-09 01:45 PM
Response to Reply #5

7. there may very well come a time and it may come very soon where the

two-state solutions ceases to be a viable possibility. Some believe that point of no return has already occurred. If that be the case or becomes the case, the bi-national state will most likely emerge as the only viable road map to peace.

However, as long as the majority of the Palestinian people and their leadership endorses the two-state solution, so will I.

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azurnoir

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Sun May-03-09 01:44 PM
Response to Original message

6. It is the only "silver lining" to the current Israeli government

keeping up the sham of moving towards a two state solution has been dropped

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