PM to Dutch MPs: Palestinians won’t accept Israel’s existence
In Holland, Netanyahu says Europe protected by Jewish state’s self-defense; is snubbed by pro-Palestinian lawmaker at meet-and-greet
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out Wednesday at the Palestinian Authority, telling reporters during a state visit to the Netherlands that the PA celebrated terror and refused to recognize Israel.
“The Palestinians want Acre, Jaffa and Tel Aviv,” he said, according to quotes reported by Israel National News and confirmed by Netanyahu’s spokesman. “The Palestinians and [PA President Mahmoud] Abbas won’t agree to the existence of Israel. The Palestinians celebrate murderous terror around the world, and in Israel they name their streets after murderers,” he said.
While Abbas has refused Netanyahu’s demand to publicly recognize Israel as a Jewish state, the PA has recognized Israel’s existence and backs a peace deal based on a two-state solution. Abbas has refused to engage in talks, however, until Israel ceases all building over the Green Line, including in Jerusalem, and releases the last group of Palestinian prisoners whose release was part of the 2014 talks between Israel and the PA.
Netanyahu also said settlements were not the cause of the conflict, but rather the fact there was an Israel at all.
“Their problem is not the West Bank, it’s our very existence,” he insisted.
Netanyahu met Wednesday with senior Dutch politicians, including Dutch Senate President Ankie Broekers-Knol, House of Representatives Speaker Khadija Arib and members of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee.
He told the lawmakers that “in many respects” Israel’s defense of itself was a defense of Europe, too.
“Israel doesn’t only protect itself, but also protects Europe,” he said. “Israel is the most stable actor in the Middle East and the most stabilizing force in the Middle East.”
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Angelien Eijsink concluded the meeting by saying the close relations between the two countries were based on shared values, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office.
As Netanyahu greeted a group of Dutch lawmakers after the meeting, one parliament member refused to shake the Israeli leader’s hand.
And here is video of the incident. Dutch MP Kuzu from the DENK-party wears a Palestinian flag on his jacket. pic.twitter.com/DjSITq83Qc
— Jan Franke (@Franke_schrijft) September 7, 2016
A video of the incident shows Tunahan Kuzu pointing to his Palestinian flag as Netanyahu goes past, and Netanyahu defers as both nod in understanding.
Kuzu, 35, was born in Istanbul and is a member of the the pro-immigrant DENK, or Think, party, which is made up of migrants to Holland.
In 2014, Kuzu led an unsuccessful parliamentary effort for the Netherlands to recognize Palestine.
