Israel Matzav: A choice between fantasy and statehood?

A choice between fantasy and statehood?

A Wall Street Journal editorial sums up the 'Palestinian' reaction to Prime Minister Netanyahu's Sunday night speech in this manner:

As for the Palestinians, for too long they have practiced a kind of fantasy politics, in which all right was on their side, concession was dishonor, and mistakes never had consequences. It hasn't earned them much. Mr. Netanyahu's speech now offers them the choice between fantasy and statehood. Judging from early reactions, they're choosing wrongly again.

What the 'Palestinians' are choosing is to continue with what the Journal calls their 'fantasy politics.' And they are doing so with the encouragement of the Obama administration.

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Israel Matzav: A choice between fantasy and statehood?

Israel Matzav: Netanyahu reframed the dispute?

Netanyahu reframed the dispute?

Michael Freund puts some thoughts that have been going through my head since Sunday into print, and a lot of what he says makes sense.

ANY FAIR-MINDED OBSERVER who listened to the speech, or merely read it afterward, could not help but come away impressed by two main themes: A sincere desire for peace, alongside the undeniable historical rights which underpin the existence of the Jewish state.

Netanyahu made a compelling case against territorial withdrawals, wryly noting that the assertion they will bring peace "has up till now not stood the test of reality." Moreover, he offered his listeners a concise yet crucial historical survey of modern Arab opposition to the very existence of a Jewish presence in this region.

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Israel Matzav: Netanyahu reframed the dispute?

Israel Matzav: Netanyahu tells CBS that he's 'disappointed' with Arab reaction

Netanyahu tells CBS that he's 'disappointed' with Arab reaction

Give Binyamin Netanyahu credit, he's playing this for all it's worth. In an interview with CBS Evening News on Monday night, Netanyahu says that he's 'disappointed' with Arab reaction to his Sunday night speech, that his formula for peace is equitable and that his 'settlements' policy is designed to let people have normal lives. He also talks about Iran a bit.

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Israel Matzav: Netanyahu tells CBS that he's 'disappointed' with Arab reaction

Israel Matzav: The 'Palestinians' outsmart themselves

The 'Palestinians' outsmart themselves

The 'Palestinian' reaction to Prime Minister Netanyahu's policy address on Sunday night has been unusually hostile.

Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah expressed outrage and shock on Sunday over Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's call for the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state and his demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

The officials said that the speech that Netanyahu delivered at Bar-Ilan University was much worse than they had expected.

They also warned that Netanyahu's policies would trigger a new intifada.

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Israel Matzav: The 'Palestinians' outsmart themselves

Israel Matzav: Netanyahu not the first to demand that a 'Palestinian state' be demilitarized

Netanyahu not the first to demand that a 'Palestinian state' be demilitarized

Contrary to the impression you may be getting from the media, the demand that any future 'Palestinian state' be demilitarized is not a new demand.

The matter was raised in Ehud Barak's talks at Camp David in July 2000 and during Ariel Sharon's discussions with George W. Bush between the announcement of the road map and the Gaza disengagement.

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Israel Matzav: Netanyahu not the first to demand that a 'Palestinian state' be demilitarized

Israel Matzav: Europeans disappointed Netanyahu didn't offer to start swimming, refuse to upgrade relations

Europeans disappointed Netanyahu didn't offer to start swimming, refuse to upgrade relations

Many months ago, Israel and the European Union agreed to upgrade their relations, but the agreement is being held up by the Europeans until they are satisfied that Israel will pursue national suicide the two state solution. If anyone hoped that Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech Sunday night would talk the Europeans out of their catatonic stupor on upgrading relations, they were wrong. The European foreign ministers decided that what Netanyahu said was 'not enough.'

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Israel Matzav: Europeans disappointed Netanyahu didn't offer to start swimming, refuse to upgrade relations

Israel Matzav: Obama recognizes 'important step forward' but no comment on request for guarantee

Obama recognizes 'important step forward' but no comment on request for guarantee

President Obama has recognized Prime Minister Netanyahu's Sunday night speech as an 'important step forward,' but did not make any comment regarding Netanyahu's demand that the United States guarantee that the 'Palestinian' state reichlet be demilitarized.

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Israel Matzav: Obama recognizes 'important step forward' but no comment on request for guarantee

Israel Matzav: Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech

Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech

For those who are interested, a full English-language transcript of Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech on Sunday night may be found here (Hat Tip: Memeorandum).

Here's the full speech in Hebrew with simultaneous translation. Let's go to the videotape.

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Israel Matzav: Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech