(Prime Minister's Office) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Knesset Wednesday: "All those who cherish human liberty, including the people of Israel, are inspired by genuine calls for reform and by the possibility that it will take place. It is obvious that an Egypt that fully embraces the 21st century and that adopts these reforms would be a source of great hope for the entire world....If we have learned anything from modern history, it is that the stronger the foundations of democracy, the stronger the foundations of peace." "Recent history shows us many cases in the Middle East when extreme Islamist elements abused the rules of the democratic game to gain power and impose anti-democratic regimes. It happened in Iran; it happened in Lebanon; and it happened when Hamas took over the Gaza Strip." "Preserving the existing peace is vital for us. We expect any government of Egypt to honor the peace. Moreover, we expect the international community to expect any government of Egypt to honor the peace." "I have said numerous times that we need real security arrangements, not only because they sustain peace, but also because they ensure our security in the event that peace unravels - and in the Middle East no one can guarantee the survival of any regime." "That was and is the central issue that I discussed with President Abbas in our short conversation. Short, not because we didn't want to talk...but because he did not want to....I hope that President Abbas will regard the changes taking place in the region as an opportunity to sit down with us and discuss peace without preconditions."
2011-02-03 08:45:44Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive