Bennett on Obama’s speech: No Nation Is Occupier of its Homeland
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Habayit Hayehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett speaking to reporters in Jerusalem.
Photo Credit: Yossi Zamir/Flash 90
President Barack Obama’s speech in front of (mostly leftist) students in the International Convention Center in Jerusalem, provoked reactions from across the political spectrum in Israel.
There was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who thanked the visiting president (Thank you, Sir, may I have another?) for his ” unconditional support for Israel,” adding that he, too, agrees with President that we should “promote peace that ensures the safety of all the citizens of Israel.” Netanyahu also agreed with Obama that “we have a great country.”
Minister of Economy and Trade Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home), sounded a great deal less enthusiastic about the president’s speech, when he told Maariv: “Obama’s statement certainly came out of concern for Israel and out of true friendship, but we’ve seen only this morning the results of our previous withdrawal (from Gaza) in Sderot (where a missile landed on the backyard of a local home), as well as in thousands of victims over the years. It’s time for new, creative concepts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East, including the idea that a nation isn’t the occupier of its own homeland.”
Jewish Home faction Chair MK Ayelet Shaked agreed that “Obama is a true friend of Israel, it can’t be denied. But at the end of the day only we will absorb the tragic and devastating consequences of establishing a Palestinian state.”
She argued that “this is why the people have chosen, just this week, a government whose platform does not support the two state solution, and the U.S. President, for whom democracy is a beacon, should respect that.”
The Judea and Samaria Council’s official response was: “President Obama’s speech was warm and embracing, but, at the same time, he tried to create the illusion of public support for moves that are dangerous to Israel. This is why, in our opinion, students from Ariel University had not been invited. Israelis have already experienced such illusions exploding in our faces, and will not support the dangers presented by Obama. The Israeli public expresses its views in democratic elections, not through inciting young people against their leadership.”
MK Ahmed Tibi (United Arab List) also disapproved of Obama’s remarks on the Jewish state. “It has been the position of the U.S. government in recent years, which we oppose.”
But Tibi was pleased with the second part of the speech, because of its “detailed references to Palestinian suffering and the occupation, as well as his understanding of the suffering of the families of Palestinian prisoners, and the talk about establishing a Palestinian state as an act of justice.”
Tibi said he enjoyed “the refreshing change in the applause of thousands of students in response to Obama’s poignant and brave words about ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state. Of course I was sorry that he did not see fit to refer to the inequality of Israeli Arab citizens, but, altogether, those words require genuine action so the Jerusalem speech won’t have the same fate as the Cairo speech.”
tell a friendAbout the Author: JewishPress.com Senior Internet Editor Yori Yanover has been a working journalist since age 17, before he enlisted and worked for Ba'Machane Nachal. Since then he has worked for Israel Shelanu, the US supplement of Yedioth, JCN18.com, USAJewish.com, Lubavitch News Service, Arutz 7 (as DJ on the high seas), and the Grand Street News. He has published two fun books: The Cabalist's Daughter: A Novel of Practical Messianic Redemption, and How Would God REALLY Vote.
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Bennet is a political whore. Why is he in bed with Lapid who supports the concept of "Land for peace"?
So does Benjamin Netanyahu. And so does every other political party in the Knesset, except for Hadash, which supports a single state between the Jordan and the Mediterranean.
Completely wrong in all respects.
I don't know who you guys are. Charlie, Perhaps Netanyahu is a political whore as well, but not as obvious as Bennet. Hadash is a joke. A party of evil and stupidity. Anybody braying at socialism in 21st century is either severly mentally retarded or evil. I will not bother addressing the fact that promoting a unified state of Jews and Arabs with Arabs having a right of return is tantamount to promoting a destruction of israel. Yonatan, care to back up your claim?
Chairman Obama, The Manchurian Candidate, is not to be trusted. His reference to self-determination by the Palestinian People, under the picture of Arafat speaks volumes. There never was a Palestinian People or state. Arafat created a Palestinian people out of barbaric nomadic arabs living in The Holy Land.
Palestinians Arabs were not nomads; they were mostly agricultural.
And their states are either Jordan or Egypt
Charlie Hall – no they were mostly foreigners that came here for work at the end of the 2nd World War. We have been here for over 3,500 years.
Dr. Bergner- Any person whose comments regarding candidates for president focuses on the size of their behinds is not a person worthy of a serious response. Such a comment , however, speaks volumes about you.
Did Obama go to Sderot to see first hand. How can he truly make an honest call regarding the Palestianians? All Netanyahu & team is protect Israel. Hasn't Israel already given enough to please the Palestinians? I SUPPORT ISRAEL.
The land is Israels. Attempting to make peace by giving away God's land is sin.
Month by month, and week by week. The middle east spins more out of control. Iran continues unwavering on it’s march in the development of nuclear weapons and Assad the dictator of Syria is still in power. Current intelligence seems uncertain of when Iran will get the bomb and Israel cannot afford to gamble with this. Assad of Syria looks like he may be willing to use weapons of mass destruction against his own people and against near by nations as well. If this situation does not drastically change soon for the better, I believe the war in Isaiah Chapter 17 will likely take place. Damascus Syria would be destroyed. The worlds economy would likely collapse as a result and could usher in a one world government movement. I wrote a small 6 page book that outlines what I believe the Bible states will take place soon as well as the potential trends I see at this time. I don’t accept donations and it’s free. It’s a short read. I encourage you to have a look: http://www.booksie.com/religion_and_spirituality/book/richard_b_barnes/after-the-rapture-whats-next.
My idea of Naftali Bennett is that he is an intelligent and knowledgeable man that dares to tell the truth. Israel is a country and has no reason to harbor any Arabs who refuse to live among his people in the Arab countries. Bennett is an asset for Israeli politic which usually have hidden themselves in fear.
My idea of Naftali Bennett is that he is an intelligent and knowledgeable man that dares to tell the truth. Israel is a country and has no reason to harbor any Arabs who refuse to live among his people in the Arab countries. Bennett is an asset for Israeli politic which usually have hidden themselves in fear.