T. Belman. The battle lines are drawn. Will Bibi weigh on on the matter and try to thwart annexation? Regardless, it all depends on whether Smotrich is the Min of Defense or removes Area C from the Civil Administration.
Israel National News Nov 10, 2022,
US Ambassador to Israel Thomas Richard NidesOlivier Fitoussi/Flash90
United States Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides sent a warning regarding the possibility that the next government will attempt to annex land in Judea and Samaria. In an interview with Kan News on Thursday, the ambassador stated that he will fight against any attempt to make such a move and explained, “The United States and most of the Arab nations oppose annexation.”
The ambassador opened by expressing his willingness to work with the new government, saying, “I want to start with a relationship with this government that is strong and enduring, I want to work closely with Prime Minister Netanyahu, I want to work closely with his government.”
“This country is a democracy that elected a leadership and I intend to work with them,” the ambassador stated, but immediately added, “That said, we have to stand up for the things that we believe in, that’s what American values are about. We have a very strong alley in the state of Israel, but there will be times when we will articulate where we believe our differences are.”
On Wednesday night, Ambassador Nides visited the Allenby Crossing at the Jordanian border, which, under American pressure, has begun a trial period remaining open 24 hours a day seven days a week.
Regarding the move, the ambassador said that, “It’s good for the Palestinian people it’s good for the Israelis and I went there last night at midnight to check things out with the head of COGAT and with the head of the Airport Authority and a lot of other people to see it for myself.” He added that he is sure that the new government will continue the cooperation with him on projects to improve the Palestinian Authority Arabs’ quality of life.
Ambassador Nides was also asked if he will talk with Otzma Yehudit chairman MK Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose status has been disturbing the sleep of countless senior officials in the Biden administration.
“I’m not going to make draconian statements that I’m not going to ever talk to anyone – it doesn’t matter left or right, we’ll see who gets to be in his position, and what positions they take. I want to see, rhetorically what they say and how they act. My job as American ambassador is to keep dialogues going, and conversations going, but push back on things that we disagree with, and I will be pushing back aggressively on things that we disagree with. But at this point, the government is not even formed so until I know and we know who has what positions and the positions they take then we will determine what conversations will take place.”
Nides sounds like an ambassador of the “State of Palestine”.
Why should Israel worry about improving the Palestinian Authority Arabs’ quality of life, don’t they invest billions of $$ already in the quality of life of their 2 million-strong Arab citizen terrorist 5th column?
There are a couple of billion Muslims in the world – if every adult Muslim pledges $1.00 a month to help his suffering “Palestinian” brothers, these brothers would have nothing to worry about.
And where is it written that every country in the world must have the same values as the US, or else?
Levin misspoke. He should have said, “I hope that we will make [fewer] statements and move forward with actions…”
Grammar Matters. 😀
Unless he said it in Hebrew.
“The fault lies not in our stars but in our translating, proof-reading, and editing staff.” – The immortal bard