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Netanyahu: In the Middle East, Peace Is Made with the Strong, Not with the Weak

(Prime Minister's Office) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the opening of the Knesset's Winter Session on Monday: "One of the challenges we face is dealing with the tens of thousands of rockets and missiles in the hands of our enemies, and aimed at our cities. The Iron Dome batteries and other defense systems provide only a partial solution....A security philosophy cannot rely on defense alone. It must also include offensive capabilities, which is the very foundation of deterrence. We operate and will continue to operate intensely and determinately against those who threaten the security of the State of Israel and its citizens." "In the Middle East, peace is made with the strong, not with the weak. The stronger Israel is, the closer peace will be. The people in Israel are united in their desire for peace. Yet we seek real peace; peace that is anchored in the right of the Jewish people to a nation-state in its homeland; peace that is based on security. We are willing to compromise, but not to discard our security." "Regrettably, the Palestinians continue to refuse to engage in direct negotiations with us. Instead of sitting at the negotiation table, they decided to join the Hamas and take unilateral steps at the United Nations. We will not idly sit by while these steps harm Israel and severely violate the most basic obligation that the two parties took upon themselves in the peace process - to resolve the conflict between us only through direct negotiations." "Unfortunately, while we support the foundation of a Palestinian state as part of a peace agreement, the Palestinians are trying to reach a Palestinian state without a peace agreement....Our friend, the United States, stands firmly at our side and opposes the Palestinian unilateral steps at the United Nations, and we are very grateful for that."
2011-11-03 00:00:00
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