Bennett: Only Israel can defend itself as US has made mistakes

Economy minister says Israel bears consequences of "wrong decisions" made by Washington during peace process; charges that only IDF, not NATO could defend Israeli security in light of any future Palestinian state.

Economy Minister Naftali Bennett has accused the United States of making mistakes in regional diplomatic efforts that have lead to threats on Israeli security.

The Bayit Yehudi leader told Israel Radio on Thursday that "wrong decisions" made by Washington during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace process have partially lead to the deluge of recent missile attacks from Gaza on southern Israel.

While Bennett insisted that he had nothing against US Secretary of State John Kerry - the leading US diplomat involved in the negotiating process - the economy minister stressed that only Israel could be relied upon to defend itself.He said Washington's insistence for new Palestinian elections has riled the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip and has in turn increased the threat of rocket strikes.

In light of security issues currently facing Israel and those that could emerge if the current round of peace negotiations result in an agreement that establishes a future Palestinian state, Bennett said only the IDF could be charged with protecting Israel.

He reiterated his rejection of a proposal forNATO troops to be stationed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem in a future Palestinian state to defend Israel's security.
 
He added that any peace agreement reached by Israeli and Palestinian negotiators would be brought to a referendum for final approval.

Jerusalem post

PA ministry: Bennett terrorist who defames freedom fighters

wow just look how they manipulate words....//""Terrorists are those who occupy the lands of another people and displace them by force and settle in their place. Palestinian prisoners are strugglers for their freedom and not terrorists," the PA Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.""//
Next they will want an apology too.
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RAMALLAH (Ma'an) --
The Palestinian Authority on Monday slammed remarks by
an Israeli minister who said Palestinian prisoners were "terrorists."

"Terrorists are those who occupy the lands of another people and displace
them by force and settle in their place. Palestinian prisoners are
strugglers for their freedom and not terrorists," the PA Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said in a statement.

The ministry was responding to remarks by Israel's Economy Minister Naftali
Bennett, who has protested the planned release of 104 long-serving
Palestinian prisoners to coincide with the resumption of peace talks.

Bennet, leader of the Jewish Home party, has called the proposed prisoner
release a "disgrace" and said "terrorists should be eliminated, not freed."

The PA ministry responded that some Israeli officials were "terrorists."

"The definition of terrorism completely applies to many Israeli politicians
who defame Palestinian prisoners especially those jailed before the Oslo
Accords."

At a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Bennett said Palestinian "terrorists" should
be killed instead of jailed, the Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth
reported.

When told such a policy would be illegal, Bennett responded that he had
"killed many Arabs and I never had a problem," the report said.
www.imra.org.il


related

Urgent Call to Action:: ISRAEL, STAND FIRM ON INTERNATIONAL LAW!
Your Help Is Needed, everyone take part.
Say NO to "land swaps" and NO to releasing convicted terrorist murderers

PM certain of majority on prisoner release, but debate goes on:: If Palestinians really want peace, why demand terrorist release?:

Deputy FM: ‘Netanyahu wrong to back Palestinian state, and it’s hurting him in Likud’
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