President Obama, thank you for your friendship to Israel and your friendship to me. You’re a great leader: a great leader of the United States, a great leader of the world, a great friend of Israel…
If we resume negotiations, as we plan to do, then I think that the Palestinians will — will have to recognize Israel as a Jewish state; will have to also enable Israel to have the means to defend itself.
If those conditions are met — Israel’s security conditions are met, and there’s recognition of Israel’s legitimacy — its permanent legitimacy, then I think we can envision an arrangement where Palestinians and Israelis live side by side in dignity, security and in peace.
And I look forward, Mr. President, to working with you, a true friend of Israel, for the achievement of our common goals (ph), which are security, prosperity and above all peace.
This was Netanyahu paying lip service on May 18 to the perennial Middle East peace process — after what had to be the most “unfriendly” meeting ever between an Israeli prime minister and a US president at the White House.
Yet, despite their political differences (and personal enmities), I am convinced that these two congenitally pragmatic leaders offer the best hope for untying the Gordian Knot that has prevented peace between the Israelis and Palestinians since Israel was founded 60 years ago.
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