Netanyahu: Israel Rejects Gaza Deal’s 15-Point Document

(Photo: Roi Avraham/GPO)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke today (Sunday) at the start of the cabinet meeting, addressing tensions with Iran and the agreement reportedly signed by Hamas with the mediators and members of the Gaza Peace Council.

At the outset of his remarks, Netanyahu said: “You have surely noticed an interesting point: Iran is attacking all the countries in the region, even outside the region, but there is one country it is not attacking — the State of Israel. So far it has not attacked; it may attack, but why have long weeks passed without it attacking us? Because it knows what a powerful blow we would deliver if it did.”

“I say this because lately, over the past two days, we have been flooded with a wave of rumors about Israeli weakness and Israeli retreats on every front. The most amusing thing is that these attacks are coming from people who preached that we should withdraw from the entire Gaza Strip, not enter Lebanon at all, and not strike Iran. So I would like to briefly go over the fronts with you, one by one.”

“First of all, Iran — I greatly appreciate President Trump. He is our greatest friend in the White House. I greatly appreciate the historic partnership with the United States against Iran’s attempts to arm itself with nuclear weapons. And I want to stress once again: With or without an agreement, as long as I am prime minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. Because the existence of our precious state, the state of all of us, the existence of Israel, is not up for negotiation.”

The prime minister continued: “Regarding Lebanon — in Lebanon, too, we are hearing all kinds of rumors. I want to make clear: In recent days, Israel has acted forcefully in Lebanon, eliminating terrorists, including on the Ali Taher ridge. I cannot go into detail. We are in the midst of very important activity. We are operating smartly and wisely. Both decisively and wisely, alongside the Israel Defense Forces, and eliminating threats.”

“As for the Gaza Strip — first of all, I want to make the main point clear: As long as I am prime minister, no Palestinian state will be established — not in Gaza and not in Judea and Samaria. Neither a ‘Fatahstan’ nor a ‘Hamastan.’ Regarding specific matters that have come up in the news lately, I want to be precise here: Israel rejects the 15-point document.”

Netanyahu clarified: “I heard people saying, ‘You didn’t say it.’ So here I am saying it again: Israel rejects the 15-point document. The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed. And when I say Hamas is disarmed, that means the heavy weapons, the less-heavy weapons, all weapons. And we are talking about real disarmament, not fictitious disarmament. We are now discussing this issue with the Americans. They have ideas; some of them are acceptable to us and some are not acceptable to us, and we know how to stand up to these things. We proved it in the past, and we are proving it today as well. In addition, the IDF will continue to thwart threats against our forces and against our citizens.”

In closing, the prime minister said: “The existence of Israel and the security of all Israeli citizens are not up for negotiation. We stand firm on these interests. We do it not in advertising offices; we do it in reality, on the ground. We proved it all along when we entered Rafah and the Philadelphi Corridor, when we entered Lebanon and eliminated Nasrallah and the rocket stockpile there, when we struck Iran twice. Contrary to all those preaching to us, we do what needs to be done for Israel’s security, and we can and know how to stand our ground even with our closest friends when necessary.”