Netanyahu. Photo Courtesy of UN-Photo/Marco Castro
The anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement “calls for the elimination of Israel,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday, in comments released by his office. Underscoring the antagonism towards Israel in the BDS movement, he said, “Here’s what one of the leaders of the BDS says: ‘The real aim of BDS is to bring down the State of Israel. Justice and freedom for the Palestinians are incompatible with the existence of the State of Israel.'”
Netanyahu, speaking with Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek, called for renewed peace negotiations with the Palestinians, but noted that Palestinian actions and those of their extremist supporters – including BDS – is sending the opposite message. “They refuse to negotiate and then try to get boycotts on Israel for there not being negotiations which they refuse to enter. Catch 22,” said Netanyahu.
The Israeli leader contrasted his approach to the Palestinian one in calling for the world to review the other side instead of Israel.
“I want you to know that we are committed to a solution of two states for two peoples. We are committed to negotiations. It’s about time that the focus was placed on the Palestinians and they should be told: ‘Are you committed to a solution of two states for two peoples? Are you committed to open-ended negotiations, that is, without preconditions? Are you committed to peace?'”
Netanyahu also called for the world to stop allowing the Palestinians to attack Israel in the diplomatic arena at the United Nations. “There’s talk of UN Security Council resolution demands on Israel. This will push peace further and further back. Because why should the Palestinians negotiate when the UN will give them everything without negotiations?”
Netanyahu highlighted the collapse of Syria and the Hamas takeover of Gaza as examples of the dangerous world we live in, warning they don’t want another Gaza. He said Israel desires a “durable peace.”
Despite the current reality, Netanyahu included some conditional optimism. Said the Israeli leader, “We are committed to peace. We hope they will be too. And if we negotiate we might actually get it.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.