News and Updates
Netanyahu: The Era of Weakness is about to End
A few hours prior to his trip to France, where he is scheduled to meet with Nicolas Sarkozy, Netanyahu called a special press conference. Netanyahu presented his views regarding the required changes in Israel's diplomatic and security conduct towards the Palestinians and the ongoing rocket attacks on communities in the South.
"I'm leaving for France where I will meet with President Nicolas Sarkozy. I intend to clarify one main point: the era of weakness of the Livni-Olmert government is over". "What the citizens of Israel have been witnessing in the last few months is an ongoing weakness, a willingness to give up everything in exchange for nothing".
"Today alone, 9 Kassam rockets hit Israel and a rain of rockets has been showering on the residents of Ashkelon and the Negev communities for months with no response" said Netanyahu and noted that the current government did not only fail to respond but also suggested far-reaching concessions. "The government releases 1000 terrorists without any return. It makes concessions in Jerusalem, it is willing to return to the 1967 lines - and the most incredible thing, it is willing to absorb thousands of Palestinian refugees into Israel. I plan to make it clear to President Sarkozy and to all our friends and foes across the globe: this policy is going to end."
"A Likud government led by me will restore security to the people of Israel, will restore pride and determination to our policies. We will stand decisively for a united Jerusalem and defensible borders in every diplomatic arena. We will not agree to have a single refugee from 1948 enter the sovereign state of Israel, not to Ashkelon, not to Jaffa, not to Acre, or any other place". "The era of weakness is about to end, and it will me my friends and I in the Likud who put an end to it and restore security to the people of Israel", Netanyahu concluded.
Netanyahu responded to reporter's questions about Israel's conduct towards Hamas: "We will change the situation in Gaza by changing our strategy from being passive to being active. At this point Israel doesn't have any deterrence, it only has endurance". Netanyahu noted that that the world would accept Israel's requirements for self-defense, concluding that: "The world respects a nation that respects itself".
