Israel's Herzog: Judge Netanyahu-Obama talks by peace moves

[webfact]

Israel's Herzog: Judge Netanyahu-Obama talks by peace moves
EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Israel's opposition leader said Wednesday the success of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meeting with President Barack Obama will be judged on whether Israel keeps its "qualitative military edge" and whether Netanyahu is really committed to pursuing peace with the Palestinians.

Isaac Herzog said whether the understandings and memorandum discussed by Obama and Netanyahu in light of the Iran nuclear deal keep Israel's military edge will be tested within a few months and on a long-term basis.

"That's really important and vital to Israel's well-being and security because it is clear that the Iranians are investing enormous amount of funding and expertise and know-how into military equipment and developments that are a danger to many nations in the region," Herzog said.

As for long-stalled peace negotiations, he said he expects Netanyahu's commitment to a two-state solution which he made in English at the White House to be turned into "deeds in Hebrew."

Herzog said Israel must look beyond the current wave of stabbings, stone-throwing and casualties, the "brainwashing and hate," and relations between Jews and Arabs being at one of their lowest points, "and take steps that can change the course of history in the region."

He said there is "a unique opportunity" now because Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf state and other countries that see the Islamic State extremist group and Iran as major threats "share a common interest with Israel."

This common interest can lead to a "security partnership" to contain Iranian expansion and the Islamic State group and could also bring about a renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Herzog said.

He challenged leaders in the region, Netanyahu, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to "try to find ways and means of moving forward."

Netanyahu also "needs to present a vision of hope, and he hasn't," Herzog said.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-11-12

[Elfin]

Netanyahu is an ape and a warmonger.

Herzog mistakenly talks of Iranian expansion........surely he really meant Israeli expansion which occurs daily into Palestinian territory.

[Ulysses G.]

There is no such thing as Palestinian territory. They turned down the UN deal and have refused to make peace ever since.

[Ulysses G.]

There is no such thing as Palestinian territory. They turned down the UN deal and have refused to make peace ever since.

[Elfin]

That's because Israel wanted to keep the best 3% at the time and all the water aquifiers.

If you want to quote the UN Ulysses G, then how about we talk about all the UN Resolutions that Israel refuses to acknowledge and comply with???