Netanyahu Insists He Wants Full Peace

Israel’s incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently stated before the Israeli parliament that he will seek “full peace” with the entire Arab and Muslim world.

While praising Islam as a rich religion he also told lawmakers that radical Islam and the Iranian regime in Tehran are major threats to regional security. But he insists that he wants peace with the Muslim world.

His speech Tuesday was undoubtedly aimed at easing international concerns that he will end peace efforts. During Netanyahu’s first term as Israeli prime minister in the 1990’s, the peace process, going strong after the signing of the Oslo Accords and the final establishment of peace with Jordan, nearly collapsed due to his hawkish sentiments.  He had set in motion plans to expand Jewish settlements in the occupied territories, a move which many saw as Israel going back on its part of the deal it made with the Palestinians at the White House in 1994.

Many remained skeptical of Netanyahu following his speech. After his recent election as prime minister he immediately criticized the Israeli government for seeking peace with the Palestinians. And never during his recent speech to parliament did he flat-out say that he supports the creation of an independent Palestinian state and he remained vague on exactly how he intends to seek full peace with the Arabs. Netanyahu was fervently opposed to the creation of Palestinian state during his first term in office and was nearly as opposed to any peace between Israel and the Palestinians as Hamas. His return to the office of prime minister can have disastrous consequences for the peace process and can add fuel to Hamas’ repeated goal of the ultimate destruction of Israel.

In case Netanyahu hasn’t noticed, nearly all Arab and Muslim countries with no diplomatic ties with Israel have stated repeatedly that they do not intend to establish diplomatic ties with Israel until an independent Palestinian state has been created. If Netanyahu really wants to show that he’s committed to peace he will have completely repent his hawkish ways and accept the fact that there will never be “full peace” between Israel and Arab and Muslim worlds as long as he continues turn his nose up at the Palestinians. The sooner he can accept this the sooner there will be peace. Having a friendly Palestinian state will create yet another ally for Israel against Hamas and quite possibly against Iran. But this can only occur when Netanyahu quits being stubborn and tries to reach out to the Palestinian people.