Following are excerpts from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks today (Wednesday, 12 June 2013), at the inter-governmental consultations in Poland:
"I want peace. To achieve peace, we must negotiate peace. We want to see this American effort succeed. Israel is ready for the resumption of direct negotiations for peace without pre-conditions. I think it is time to stop squabbling over preconditions. I think it's time to stop negotiating about the negotiations. I think we have to start peace talks immediately. My goal is to see a historic compromise that ends the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians once and for all. This will entail a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes the Jewish state, with iron clad security arrangements for Israel – recognition, security, demilitarization. I believe that these are the elements for peace. I don't pose them as preconditions for negotiations. I look forward to enter those negotiations without preconditions without delay. I am ready for such a peace. I hope the Palestinians are ready too.
Sanctions alone will not be enough. They must be coupled with a credible military threat. The Iranian regime must understand that, one way or the other, it will be prevented from completing its nuclear weapons program. As for these so-called elections taking place in Iran this week, well unfortunately, they will change nothing of significance. This regime will continue to be led by one man, one ruler, who will continue Iran's quest for nuclear weapons.
On Syria, both our countries are concerned about the terrible carnage occurring in that country. Israel is not a party to the internal conflict in Syria. But Israel will defend itself if attacked, and we reserve the right to act if our national security is threatened.
Poland and Israel agree that terrorism must be defeated. We see Hezbollah active across the globe – in the Middle East, in Africa, in Asia even in the United States of America. Today, Europe faces the question of whether to officially define Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. What a question. If Hezbollah is not a terrorist organization, I don't know what a terrorist organization is, but it's not just an Israeli problem. Hezbollah has murdered innocent civilians on European soil. And Europe cannot, must not, be indifferent to this."
