PM's Office Response to Expected UN General Assembly Decision

In response to the expected UN General Assembly decision this evening (Thursday, 29 Nov.), the Prime Minister's Office issued the following statement:

"This is a meaningless decision that will not change anything on the ground. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that there will be no establishment of a Palestinian state without a settlement that ensures the security of Israel's citizen. He will not allow a base for Iranian terrorism to be established in Judea and Samaria, in addition to those that have already been established in Gaza and Lebanon.

The way to peace between Jerusalem and Ramallah is in direct negotiations, without preconditions, and not in one-sided UN decisions.

By going to the UN, the Palestinians have violated the agreements with Israel and Israel will act accordingly."

PM's Office Response to Abbas' UN General Assembly Speech

In response to PA President Mahmoud Abbas' speech to the UN General Assembly, the Prime Minister's Office issued the following statement this evening (Thursday, 29 Nov.):

"The world watched a defamatory and venomous speech that was full of mendacious propaganda against the IDF and the citizens of Israel. A person who wants peace does not speak in such a manner."

Prime Minister Netanyahu's Statement on the General Assembly Resolution

(November 30, 2012)

Following is a statement delivered today (Nov. 29) by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Begin Heritage Center:

Israel is prepared to live in peace with a Palestinian state, but for peace to endure, Israel’s security must be protected. The Palestinians must recognize the Jewish State and they must be prepared to end the conflict with Israel once and for all.  None of these vital interests, these vital interests of peace, none of them appear in the resolution that will be put forward before the General Assembly today and that is why Israel cannot accept it.  The only way to achieve peace is through agreements that are reached by the parties directly; through valid negotiations between themselves, and not through U.N. resolutions that completely ignore Israel’s vital security and national interests.  And because this resolution is so one-sided, it doesn’t advance peace, it pushes it backwards. 

As for the rights of the Jewish people in this land, I have a simple message for those people gathered in the General Assembly today: no decision by the U.N. can break the 4000 year-old bond between the people of Israel and the land of Israel.