Democracy for the Middle East: REPORT: May 12 Netanyahu Speech at Likud Party Meeting

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Democracy for the Middle East

May 13, 2002

REPORT: May 12 Netanyahu Speech at Likud Party Meeting

Excerpts From Netanyahu's Speech before the May 12 Likud Party Meeting

"Self-rule, yes. But a state with which to destroy the State of Israel - no."

"In order to defeat terrorism, we must take three steps. First, we must complete the purification of the area, and clean it out totally of all fighting forces and arms. The Prime Minister and the government began this mission, but it has not yet been completed. Secondly, we must establish security buffer zones opposite the Palestinian population centers in order to prevent free passage of Palestinians to our cities. The third step is the most important: We must totally destroy the regime of Arafat and rid ourselves of him. Arafat is the engine that drives terrorism and poisons an entire generation of Palestinian children with unbridled hatred for Israel. We must also not take part in a regional conference with Arafat or his representatives. We must not fall into this trap under any circumstances.

"When the Prime Minister turned to me and asked me to take part in the information effort, I responded willingly, and met with many Senators and Representatives. If I had any difficulties in explaining, it was not regarding why we want to expel Arafat; it was why we were *not* expelling him!

"The biggest mistake that was made [a reference to Sharon, among others] was to promise the greatest prize for Palestinian terrorism: the establishment of their own independent state. Most people now feel that a state under Arafat would be a terrorist fortress dedicated to our destruction.

But some say that without Arafat, and without the Tanzim, and with a different leadership, things would be different. Let's see if this is true. We want to ensure that such an entity does not receive more than self-rule. But it will demand all the powers of a state, such as controlling borders, bringing in weapons, control of airspace and the ability to knock down any Israeli plane that enters its area, the ability to sign peace treaties and military alliances with other countries. Once you give them a state, you give them all these things, even if there is an agreement to the contrary, for within a short time they will demand all these things, and they will assume these powers, and the world will stand by and do nothing - but it *will* stop us from trying to stop them. We will thus have created with our own hands a threat to our very existence. Arafat said it best when talking to reporters the day he signed the Oslo accords: "Since we can't defeat Israel in war, we must do it in stages, we must take whatever area of Palestine we can get, establish sovereignty there, and then at the right time, we will have to convince the Arab nations to join us in dealing the final blow to Israel.". Self-rule, yes. But a state with which to destroy the State of Israel - no.

"All the Likud governments objected to a Palestinian state, and with that we received our mandate from the public, and to this mandate all Likud leaders are bound. And yet something strange happened here: Without anyone approving it, without any democratic process - not in the party, not in the government, not in the Knesset, and certainly not in the country - but only with some ill-advised remarks [by Sharon in favor of a PA state], one of the foundation stones of our national security has been shaken, and suddenly the position of Sarid and Peres has become the official policy of the Government of Israel - and as a result, also that of the United States. Ladies and gentlemen, is this how critical decisions on our national existence are made?

"Just today we heard in the news that Shimon Peres met with Arafat's top aide, Muhammad Rashid, in order to discuss the 'reforms that must be made in the PA in order to enable a PA state.' We are told that we must not tie the government's hands in this matter - and I say that in this existential matter, we must tie its hands and stop this danger! If we end this evening without a clear decision on this matter, not only will we not stop the train of a PA state, we will even speed it up. For it will mean that the Likud has retreated from its principled positions..."

Home . Posted by Editor at May 13, 2002 09:59 PM . DFME's new internet address is www.dfme.org

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Don't Expel Arafat!
By Ariel Natan Pasko

Recently Foreign Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been calling for Arafat's expulsion. In fact, at a Likud Party convention (Nov. 12), Netanyahu promised, if elected Prime Minister, one of the first things he would do is expel Yasser Arafat. Many on the Right in Israel over the last couple of years, have called for Arafat's expulsion. The Yesha Council (of towns in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza), about a year ago (Oct. 22, 2001), organized a rally in Jerusalem with the slogan, "Expel Arafat, Fight Terror". Voices in the Israeli Intelligence Community supporting Arafat's expulsion, have begun to be heard. But there are contrary opinions, for example from Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz. He agrees with Prime Minister Sharon that it isn't worth risking good relations with the United States, and has stated his opposition to expelling Arafat.

There are other voices, voices of commentators and politicians who neither want Arafat expelled, nor left alone. What comes to mind are those who have said recently that Arafat should be tried for murder (Alan Dershowitz-"Put Arafat On Trial"), or put on trial like Eichmann (myself- "An Eichmann Trial For Arafat" and Minister of National Infrastructure Effi Eitam), or simply killed. Minister Effi Eitam, after calling for a trial, later moved to "Take him out and shoot him". MK Michael Kleiner said that the army should have "bombed Arafat's compound in Ramallah with him inside". And, Prof. Steven Plaut ("The Case For Killing Arafat") asks, "So what does Israel have to lose from killing Arafat?"

But the absolutely worst idea (and I think leaving him alone is pretty bad) is expelling him. Because once in 'exile', Arafat will be back where he started, free from our control, to campaign for a Palestinian State unhindered. Free to play 'victim' as the poor 'exiled' Palestinian. Free to make weapons purchases and organize terror acts on a scale yet unknown. Imagine for a moment, Yasser Arafat will have total free access to media interviews. Sounds pretty dangerous, doesn't it? Why should Israel give all this to him? And what if, a different type of government comes to power in Israel later, and brings Arafat back again (like Rabin did with Hamas in 1992-93)? Will we have to watch on the TV, Arafat's triumphant return to 'Palestine' for a second time?

Forget it! There is another solution.

I have to admit that Israel hasn't yet been 'too smart' in dealing with him. When we had him locked up in the Mukatah compound for months, we should have cut all access to the media and visitors. Heck, in the Middle Ages, they would have just dumped him in the dungeon (if they didn't kill him). Locked away for years, without any sight or sound of him, new leaders would have arisen to fill the power vacuum. That's how to make him irrelevant.

Contrast that, to letting him roam free in 'exile'. The only value to exiling him is if Israel intends to quietly 'bump him off', making it look like another Arab/Islamic state or terror group did it, and denying it later.

Let me state clearly, I don't support the 'extra-judicial' killing of Arafat. If an Israeli Prime Minister has the political strength and moral courage to 'exile' Arafat and he's ready to 'take the heat' from the world, for the sake of the Jewish People & Israel, then why not arrest Yasser Arafat and try him for Crimes Against Humanity, i.e. the Jewish People, Lebanese, Americans, and others. He should be tried in Jerusalem like Eichmann was, and put to death. Arafat's trial & execution, would set an example for the world to see, in the bright light of day and in the dawn of Israel's new beginning, how to deal lawfully with terrorism.

For those of you who are a little squeamish, I want to remind you of an important 'TRUISM'. No matter how much the world screams foul, in two weeks, there are new headlines. So, don't worry.

Whatever Israel decides to do, please, DON'T EXPEL ARAFAT!

Ariel Natan Pasko is an independent analyst & consultant. He has a Master's Degree in International Relations & Policy Analysis. His articles have been published on numerous news/views and think-tank websites, and in newspapers.

Posted by: Ariel at January 15, 2003 09:05 PM