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Netanyahu: Use of regional unrest to normalise relations with Arabs

March 8, 2017 at 6:12 pm

Israel is the strongest country in the Middle East and should use its position to as leverage for normalising relations with regional countries, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today.

Speaking to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, Netanyahu stressed Israel’s unrivalled diplomatic and military strength in the region, which could be used to achieve diplomatic ties with regional Arab countries.

He told the committee that he “believes in nurturing these interests,” adding: “In my opinion, if we act wisely, it could assist us normalising ties with countries in the region and opening new diplomatic streams – that could be more efficient – between us and the Palestinians,” the Jerusalem Post reported.

Pointing to the $38 billion upgraded aid budget from the US during Obama’s last months in office, he mentioned that Israel’s military power is stronger than ever.

“This stable aid will allow the IDF [Israeli army] and other military services to use the most recent and sophisticated technology in the world,” he said.

Netanyahu also stated that in the diplomatic sphere, Israel is widening its influence.

The biggest world powers are tightening their ties with us – and they are not the only ones.

“Three weeks ago I met with US President Donald Trump”, he added: “Tomorrow I will arrive to Moscow to meet [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, in about 10 days I am scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi [Jinping] after receiving an invitation from him, and in several months Indian President [Narendra] Modi will come here to visit.”

Netanyahu mentioned the fact that in 2016 he met with some 250 senior world leaders from all five continents.

“Israel is being sought after, it is a wanted country, first of all because of our cyber technology knowledge, both civilian and military,” he said.

Critics point to the fact that decades of suppression and subjugation of the Palestinian people, instead of being a burden, has become the source of its political clout. Israel’s culture of deep militarism and years of experience in suppression of political rights means it is uniquely equipped to export its technology of control and domination around the world. Its unique ability to supress has made the country an invaluable asset to governments around the world.