PM Netanyahu slammed members of the international community who have rushed to support the Palestinian Unity Government with Hamas, at his Sunday cabinet meeting. Netanyahu said that anyone who thinks that Hamas will be moderated is mistaken, clearly hinting at US Secretary of State John Kerry, who reportedly, secretly offered Hamas financial aid in exchange for moderating their public positions against Israel.
Netanyahu reiterated that PUG president Mahmoud Abbas’s first obligation is demilitarizing the areas under his control. No one in the international community is even bothering to demand that Hamas’s independent terrorist army be disarmed.
Netanyahu also singled out Australia with exceptional praise for clearly stating the truth about Jerusalem not being occupied territory.
The text of Netanyahu’s speech follows:
“Over the weekend, the leaders of Hamas reiterated their intention to destroy the State of Israel. Whoever hoped that the Palestinian unity between Fatah and Hamas would moderate Hamas is mistaken. Instead of the Palestinian authority taking over Gaza, the signs are being more and more seen that the complete opposite is taking place, i.e. that Hamas is increasing its control in the Palestinian Authority areas in Judea and Samaria. Therefore, international pressure must be applied on Abu Mazen to dissolve the partnership with Hamas. This touches on the roots of the conflict and the roots of a solution in which peace is achieved between us and the Palestinians.
In any case, Abu Mazen promised to uphold all of his previous commitments, and the first of these is honoring the commitment to demilitarize the areas under the control of the Palestinian government, including – of course – the Gaza Strip.
Over the weekend we also heard an interesting declaration from the Australian government of a kind that we do not always hear. It simply said that eastern Jerusalem is not occupied territory; the minimum is that is an area in dispute.
To say this sharply and with such clarity and, I would say, courage, is refreshing given the chorus of hypocrisy and ignorance, ignorance not only of ancient history, but of recent and current history. What has really happened here? Who invaded who? Who occupied what? What is subject to negotiation? What is the area in dispute? These are new things. I certainly appreciate this stand by the Australian government and I am certain that all those who want to see an agreement here based on peace, justice and truth – and it is impossible to build peace based on historic lies – would agree. There is truth and it must be embraced. It requires many, many conclusions and steps, but it certainly does not require the sanctification of lies.”