PM to Herzog: ‘Good morning, welcome to Mideast’

Netanyahu says that in light of protests in the Arab world, he began doubting the feasibility of the two-state solution.

He characterizes the Egyptian protests as “anti-West, anti-liberal, anti-Israel,” and says he faced “serious criticism” for his assessment.

At the time, Netanyahu says he was urged to make peace.

“My responsibility as prime minister is not to dig my head in the sand,” he says. “We are fighting the enemy in our borders and outside of it.”

He refers to the fence at the border with Egypt, without which he says Israel would be “overrun” with migrants.

He says a year ago, “in the face of the incredible changes around us,” in which vacuums are filled with Islamist extremism, “I said in the current circumstances, we can’t implement two states for two nations.”

Netanyahu quotes the opposition leader saying the two-state solution is not possible right now.

“Good morning, Boujie. I’m glad you woke up. Welcome to the Middle East. The alarm clock has gone off, and maybe you’ve finally figured out where we live,” he says to Herzog.

“How can we trust you… when you only realize what is happening years later?” he says. First you attacked me, he says to Herzog, and now you are quoting me.