Netanyahu emphasizes Israel's God-given right to the 'Land of Israel'
Haven't seen the speech transcript yet. AP says that Netanyahu broke new ground by offering a limited Palestinian state. A flag and currency-- sounds like. A friend who has seen it writes that the speech was red meat to the right wing:
Netanyahu opted to pander to the consensus, most especially to the settler base, which was his audience at Bar Ilan University. He made them very happy.
Mean-spirited in the extreme, he emphasized on Israel's god-given right to the "Land of Israel" (euphemism for Israel Plus--plus Judea and Samaria, i.e., the West Bank, aka Palestine). And on Israel's right to all of Jerusalem. There was not a generous word about the Palestinians. Only the usual tone of threat. There was no surprise in this, of course, but the nasty, supercilious, and hypernationalist tone even took my breath away.
Lest you think it was all negative, he did offer to cooperate with the Palestinians on solar panels.
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So, you haven't read the speech, and yet feel compelled somehow to post a comment anyway. I'm no fan of Netanyahu, but why don't you read the speech and tell me where he mentions, much less "emphasizes" Israel's God-given right to the land. In fact, why don't you point out where he even mentions God. I'll be waiting for an answer. (Hint, he doesn't.)
In today's speech, there were a few things to praise, more than a few things to criticize, but this type of knee-jerk, fatuous commentary merely demonstrates the writer's shallow attachment to a preconceived agenda, much like the writer's credulous so-called "reporting" from Gaza. Again, I am surprised Josh Marshall allows it such a prominent place.
June 14, 2009 9:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're right, Armchair, that Netanyahu did not claim the right to the Land of Israel was God-given, just historical.
Here's his lead-in:
"So far I have spoken about the need for Palestinians to recognize our rights. In a moment, I will speak openly about our need to recognize their rights.
"But let me first say that the connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel has lasted for more than 3500 years. Judea and Samaria, the places where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, David and Solomon, and Isaiah and Jeremiah lived, are not alien to us. This is the land of our forefathers.
"... Our right to build our sovereign state here, in the land of Israel, arises from one simple fact: this is the homeland of the Jewish people, this is where our identity was forged."
One thing that strikes me is the misdirection -- the bait-and-switch -- that he pulls right here.
Because he never does return to "our need to recognize their rights." The very phrase "Palestinian rights" never resurfaces.
Instead, we get "If they do X, we might eventually do Y."
In Netanyahu's scenario, Israelis have a right to the land, while Palestinians are a mere "population living within it."
We own it; you are there by accident.
The awful reality is that I believe a majority of Israelis share this view. In that light, all Netanyahu's talk about swords and plowshares is just window-dressing.
June 15, 2009 4:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
RE: tell me where he mentions, much less "emphasizes" Israel's God-given right to the land
MY COMMENT: "Judea & Samaria"
SOURCE - http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/
June 16, 2009 3:08 AM | Reply | Permalink