Following the agreement with the Emirates, the Prime Minister in a special interview with "Israel Today": "We have achieved peace without relinquishing territories" • On sovereignty: "Only with the consent of the United States" • On the Palestinians: " Ganz and Ashkenazi: "I did not inform them about the contacts because I was afraid they would leak"
Benjamin Netanyahu. "We will do whatever it takes to protect ourselves"
Photo:
Oren Ben Hakon
I do not remember seeing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu relaxed and in a good mood like yesterday (Sunday). This is probably one of the signs of the agreement that was decided upon with the United Arab Emirates and the feeling that Don Quixote's views he has moved into action.
It is true that most of the paragon comes from newspapers such as the New York Times and not from the Israeli media, but the international vision is also something.
Let there be a moment of commentary, Mr. Prime Minister. Thomas Friedman defined this peace move as a geopolitical earthquake. What does he mean?
"I do not know what he meant, but I know what I meant," says Prime Minister Netanyahu. "For years I have rejected the idea of territories in exchange for peace, that is, peace based on Israeli withdrawals and Israeli weakness. I say: Peace for peace and peace out of strength, not out of weakness. "
Photo: GPO
According to him, the agreement matured "because I worked to establish Israel's power - economically, by a free market and technological capability, and also politically by combining our economic and military capabilities. I think the big difference in the Middle East of the attitude of Arab countries, came as a result of my opposition to "Nuclear agreement with Iran. Against Iran's aggression. Many countries in the region have seen in Israel under my leadership a country that is becoming an enemy and a vital ally."
What does it mean that if we did not oppose the nuclear deal, the Arabs would be on the side of the Iranians today?
"I do not know if they were on the side of the Iranians, but they were not on our side. In the Middle East, we make peace with the strong, we do not make it with the weak. I nurtured the strengths of Israel, in my policy I made Israel very strong. Economically, militarily and technologically strong, cyber power and with a strong international status. A country recycled by countries on all continents. Arab countries have noticed this. "
He adds that "especially they have noticed - and I know this from personal information - the stabilization of my attack against Iran and my willingness to stand up to the whole world against a danger that also threatens them."
Does this aggressive stance include certain actions we have taken in certain places? Not just in Syria?
"Obviously. Know that we acted. I sent the Mossad personnel to the heart of Tehran to remove the nuclear archive."
Just that, or were there more actions?
"There are other actions that we appreciate we have taken."
"We have become a cyber power"
People say it's probably your "legacy" as prime minister. Will there be another country? Who's next in line?
"I'm not saying it's my legacy. My legacy is first and foremost that I have transformed Israel from a semi-socialist country to a free market country. We have nurtured an infrastructure revolution, roads, trains and interchanges here. We have changed the country. We have taken the gas out of the water. We have made Israel a cyber power. "In general, my legacy is that I change the direction of Israel by cultivating the four powers - economic, military, political and value. The value power stems, among other things, from the change between peace out of weakness and peace out of power."
Netanyahu adds: "My opponents, including Ehud Olmert, said until a few days ago that no Arab state would make official peace with us until we resolve the conflict with the Palestinians."
• The Iranian chief of staff has threatened the UAE
• "Agreement will prevent violence"
• Alliance of the Oppressed: Iran is pressured by peace agreements - pushing Hamas to escalate
• Senior diplomat in the Emirates: "Signature - until October"
"Attitude towards us has changed"
Quote from Obama's close adviser Philip Gordon: "Israel's vision to normalize its relations with Arab states without an agreement with the Palestinians is imaginary ... The road to normalization with Arab states still passes through the Palestinian issue and not the other way around." Where did he go wrong?
"This approach perpetuates the Palestinian veto on Zionism. Nothing has changed since the Balfour Declaration. It allows the most extremists to hold Israel and the Arab states hostage. They never agree. No matter if it is a Clinton or Obama plan, the widest concessions the left has been willing to make. "The Palestinians were unwilling to agree. As a result, peace with the Arab states will be postponed forever."
The Prime Minister states otherwise that “if Israel is strong and sufficiently aggressive, as I stood against Iran, we can change their attitude towards us. And to me too. And the attitude has changed. They saw that I was facing a common threat. The attitude was different. The seriousness has changed. Therefore, all this perception has lost its power. "
He adds that "for the first time in a quarter of a century, we are making peace not on the basis of Israeli concessions and withdrawals. As was the case with Egypt and Jordan."
Regarding the application of sovereignty, there are those who claim that it was a bluff that helped you produce a card by which you brought the UAE to a signature.
"It was not a bluff. For three years I worked and did not give up sovereignty. I included it in President Trump's peace plan. According to the American plan, Israel will win 30 percent of Judea and Samaria - ten times what it was in other plans - without displacing any settlement and territories. Which are necessary for Israel's security. This is the American plan. She has not changed. I brought it. "
He said, "It is true that immediately after the announcement of the Trump plan I wanted to bring it to the government and they asked me to wait and again and again I asked that I wait to allow them to move forward with the peace agreement with the Emirates, and possibly with other countries. Insisting on sovereignty It changed the cards. "
Is this possible in the event of a November upheaval in the US?
"I think the concepts have changed. The idea that we will return to the '67 lines, we will uproot settlements - these things have actually gone out of the question. This change, which I worked with President Trump to bring it down, I think will affect later. Just as I worked to move the embassy to Jerusalem, "And it happened. I talked about recognizing our sovereignty in the Golan Heights - and it happened. And there are other things like that. It takes time. I said I would work to stop Iran, people grinned."
He adds that "this is the power of an idea. The arrangement that stipulates that Israelis will remain in their places and we will not carry out ethnic cleansing - we promoted it contrary to what was previously accepted."
As part of our internal politics, do you see a possibility in the coming year to move it?
"People who opposed the application of sovereignty are coming from the right and are now saying why you gave up. It is absurd. It stems from irrelevant considerations."
You have reluctant partners in this matter - Ganz and Ashkenazi. You did not even bother to inform them of your moves in front of the UAE.
"Inform them? I've been doing this for years. They've been here for a total of two months. That was the bottom line - to maintain discretion, so as not to allow Iran and others to torpedo it."
Do you think Ashkenazi and Gantz would have leaked to Iran?
"Not to Iran. I did not say they would leak to Iran. They can talk uncontrollably with associates and this information can come out."
Do you see the partnership with Ganz for at least three years?
"If they act neither as a government within a government nor as an internal opposition - then the answer is yes. If not, it will fall apart. I hope it does not fall apart now. During the Corona period we set up the government to fight the Corona. We will do everything so that it does not fall apart."
Right now it turns out that the Security Council does not want to renew the embargo on Iran. What are we doing about it?
"We will do everything necessary to protect ourselves," Netanyahu declares. He goes on to stress that the Security Council decision is outrageous. "The fact that the international community has not mobilized behind the US call for a renewed arms embargo on Iran is a certificate of poverty for the international community. "I believe that the United States will act in this matter. We are also working to prevent Iran from intensifying."
He said, "Many of those who try to pat themselves on the back when it comes to standing up to the Iranians were not partners in my position. I am talking first of all about Yair Lapid, who criticized my going to Congress to appear there against the nuclear deal, and so did many in the military and unfortunately the rest of the defense establishment. ".
"Speech in Congress Helped"
Do you see a connection between your March 2015 speech in Congress and this flag being flown now?
"I suggest you take the opportunity to interview the leaders of the region and ask them. They would give a completely clear decisive answer."
Again, will more Arab countries come after the UAE?
"I appreciate that. When I said we could bring about peace agreements - six years ago, including in UN speeches - people did not take it seriously. But that idea is permeating. "
The settlers do not like the agreement, which opposed the application of sovereignty. Is it possible that they will mobilize the evangelists for the purpose of interfering in Israel's policy?
"There is a misconception here. Not that I had a choice - choose between the application of sovereignty and the peace agreement. From the beginning I said that I would only apply with the consent of the United States, because applying sovereignty without consent is an irresponsible thing that would endanger settlement and the State of Israel by Tough measures against the State of Israel in the international community. There was a clear initial condition of American consent.
"When they asked me, with the publication of the plan and now, to wait with the application of sovereignty to allow the agreement - they did not let me choose them. They said that was their position. Therefore, if sovereignty can not be exercised at this moment and should be suspended for a certain period, "At least accept the agreement. I did not choose one over the other."
Photo: Reuters
According to Netanyahu, "Anyone who wants to act unilaterally and without US support will make a bitter mistake, it is not the right thing to do. Those who want to lead the country responsibly will not do so either. "
And on another issue, the Hamas fire campaign in the south. Usually, we give the big hit after four rounds. Maybe it's better to do it after four balloons?
"The Palestinians will do good to themselves if they remember what happened in previous rounds. This has led to targeted thwarting and our very strong actions. I suggest they stock up on memory. Ultimately, our activity is the guarantee that Gaza understands that if this continues, the attacks they are experiencing now will be nothing compared to What comes next. "
