Netanyahu spreads a culture of hate

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s victory in the 12th Knesset elections last week offered Iran and Islamic Jihad radicals a God-sent gift.

Their line of thought has always been that the Israeli prime minister rejects the Oslo accords, makes fun of the Quartet, denigrates the 10-year-old American efforts to achieve a two-state solution and considers the whole peace process as just a mirage.

Many observers considered the Iranian stand regarding recognition of Israel and making peace with the Jewish people as nihilistic.

The ayatollahs and their followers in Gaza preached a bellicose solution to the Palestinian cause.

When he announced his rejection of a Palestinian state, Netanyahu managed to confirm that the hardliners’ words were prophetic.

By describing Arab voters as animals that go to the polls in “droves”, Netanyahu just contributes to building a culture of hate that can be reciprocated and will not be conducive to peace between the two peoples.

It is true that Netanyahu went back on his rejection of a two-state solution, following diplomatic pressure from the US, and the announcement by President Barack Obama that he will “reassess and reconsider” the relationship with Israel.

Equally worrying to officials in Jerusalem was the statement by the White House that support for Israel at the United Nations will be scaled down, which is exclusively the White House’s prerogative and does not require an approval by the pro-Israel Congress. 

Netanyahu succeeded in creating an atmosphere of hostility that is not conducive to coexistence among the peoples in the region.

He was explicit about the continuation of settlement expansion on Palestinian territories and adamant about denying Muslims their rights in Jerusalem or in the holy land. He reiterated his commitment to Judaising the occupied territories using the thinly veiled pretext of security considerations.

Following the Madrid peace conference in October 1991, a former Israeli prime minister, Yizhak Shamir, said: “Had it not been for the US pressures regarding the loan guarantees, I could have extended for tens of years my negotiations with the Palestinians.”

It is regrettable that Netanyahu is not only following Shamir’s stratagem, but exacerbating the whole situation by expressing hate towards Arabs.