B’nai B’rith International welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s outline for steps to achieve peace with the Palestinians and his plan that would accept a "demilitarized Palestinian state” that “exists alongside the Jewish state.” Netanyahu asserted that a Palestinian state could not import missiles, and must accept and acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state. The address was given at Bar-Ilan University on June 14.
B’nai B’rith calls on Arab leaders to accept Netanyahu’s offer of peace talks without preconditions.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu made it clear that Israel is a willing and ready partner for peace,” said B’nai B’rith President Moishe Smith. “In unequivocally stating the responsibilities of each side, Netanyahu created a clear path to follow.”
“Netanyahu took a decisive step forward in peace efforts,” said B’nai B’rith Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin. “Throughout the history of Israel, the Palestinians have found excuses to reject Israeli peace efforts. Once again, the ball is clearly in the Palestinians’ court. We hope they will choose peace as presented in the Netanyahu vision.”
Natanyahu’s offer to travel anywhere, and anytime for peace – to “Damascus, to Riyadh, to Beirut, to any place” – is especially noteworthy, and is an offer that should not go unrequited.
B’nai B’rith also praised his calling attention to the clear and present danger posed by Iran, which returned Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the incendiary leader who vows to wipe Israel off the map, denies the Holocaust, and pursues nuclear weapons, to power in a disputed election outcome. Netanyahu said of the region, "The greatest danger" is where "radical Islam and nuclear weapons" meet.
We call on the international community to heed his warnings about the threat posed by Iran.
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