(Prime Minister's Office) Prime Minister Netanyahu told a Jewish National Fund (JNF) conference on Tuesday: "We're going through a period of turmoil that can only be called historic....Is it going to be 1989, the great revolution that unleashed the forces of liberalism and freedom in Central and Eastern Europe? Or will it be 1979, the revolution that brought the night of Iranian militant Islamic darkness over the people of Tehran?" "The two pivotal countries that I think are important are those that have created the anchor of peace in the heart of the Middle East, and that's Egypt and Jordan. I think what is required is a Marshall Plan by the concerned international powers, and also the public sector, to assist in the concrete development of these two economies." We have "to put maximum pressure on the main engine that drives Islamic militancy in this region, and that is pressure on Iran, and above all, to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons. That should be a main goal for all civilized society." "You cannot have peace without security at any time in this neighborhood, but especially in these times....Under any arrangement for peace, Israel must retain a long-term military presence along the Jordan River. There are other security arrangements that we need...we need them to protect the peace and we need them to protect Israel if peace unravels."
2011-03-30 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive