On 1st October Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his UNGA( United Nations General Assembly) speech. It was an unimaginative speech, honed for those who support his view and his right wing Knesset members at home. His tactic of denying the Israeli UN delegation to listen to Iranian's new President Hassan Ruhani's speech at UNGA, was an emotional, childish knee-jerk reaction, which did nothing to promote Israel's interests at all. Maybe it would not have made any difference to Iran had Israel's UN delegation remained in the hall while Rohani was delivering his speech. It could have been a tactical advantage in the eyes of the countries present on Israel's readiness to cooperate with the US on the issue of Iran's nuclear weapon programme. Israel has very few allies because of the complicated occupation of the Palestinians and its denial of human rights to the Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank overlooked by Netanyahu in his speech.Netanyahu's emphasis on democracy compared to Iran and other Arab countries is questionable. In the occupied territories, where nationalist right wing Religious Zionists live illegally wield great influence on the Netanyahu - Lieberman - Bennett Coalition. They exploit the Palestinians, uprooting their Olive Oil Trees, Orange Groves, as well as destroying their homes. The police have never made any arrests, despite Palestinian complaints. There is also the Price Tag violence of desecration of non-Jewish gravestones, mosques and churches. We must bear in mind that Price Tag is a movement of religious hooligans and an offshoot of right wing extreme nationalist ideology with its roots in the religious Zionist parties of Israel.
Netanyahu's speech just emphasized his attitude towards any form of change in Iran. He never told us anything that we do not know already. He continued his uncompromising attack on Ruhani in order to divert the world's attention from the occupation. He did mention his support for a two-state solution because it is music to the ears of the US. He talks about expecting action rather than words in the case of Iran concerning its nuclear programme. This applies to Netanyahu as well. He talks about a two-state solution but he does everything in his power to prevent it from occurring. It is not the phoney cosmetic peace negotiations that is taking place behind closed doors, but also the increased settlement activity in the occupied West Bank. This must come at the expense of the future Palestinian state. Building of settlements in the territories is not done for the purpose of demolishing them as part of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict.
These illegal settlements ("legal settlements" in the eyes of the right wing and Naftali Bennett's Habayit Hayehudi Party - right wing Zionist religious party) are to remain according to Netanyahu. He talks about "painful concessions" that he is prepared to make for true peace and security for Israel. It is doubtful if there will be "painful concessions". He has already hinted as to what he is not prepared to do which does not leave much leeway for his more than vague "painful concessions".
So, what is Netanyahu talking about when actions are more important than rhetoric? This applies to him no less than Ruhani of Iran. He seems to overlook that in order to please his narrow group of intolerant right wing supporters. The world is seeking a new deal. A breath of fresh rhetoric is coming from Iran that is pleasing to the ears of the US. It should be pleasing to Israel as well. While it is true that Israel has every right not to trust Iran. The evil Ahadinajad has spoken many times about wiping Israel off the map. The virulent anti-Israel rhetoric coming from Iran does give cause for concern. It would have been preferable if Ruhani was more accommodating in accepting Israel's right to exist. Unfortunately he was not. He should be given more time on that issue. We should examine the content of Ruhani's speech which is a far cry from the bluster and rhetoric of Ahmadinajad. Netanyahu blew it and isolated Israel even further.
Netanyahu is oblivious of the possible "winds of change" occurring in Iran. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, is Ruhani's boss. What he says Rohani has to accept. Whatever the motives of Iran's tactics towards the US, there is a place for cautious optimism with very strong verification that Iran's change of tactics is matched with deeds when it comes to dismantling his nuclear facilities geared for making a nuclear bomb. There is no argumemt about that. The heavy sanctions imposed on Iran is the main reason why Iran changed its tactics. Economically Iran's situation is bad. Much still has to be achieved in order to ease those sanctions.
The Palestinian issue is an excuse for Iran's negative attitude towards Israel. Iran does not care about the Palestinians. They care even less than Israel does. This does not say very much for Iran as their human rights record towards its own citizens is appalling. The Palestinians are Sunni Muslims while Iranians are Shiites. It is no secret that Sunnis and Shiites hate each other throughout history and still do to this day. Iran wants to control the Middle East and the Arab countries are aware of this no less than Israel and this incliudes controlling the Palestinians as well, replacing their leadership with a Shiite leadership at a later stage.
Iran has a long way to go to prove that Ruhani's speech is a prelude for true peace. There are still obstacles and it is doubtful if Iran will open all its nuclear facilities for international inspection. Meanwhile Ruhani's sweet words stand the test of time p
Israel has Hezbollah terrorists under the evil, charismatic leader Hassan Nasrallah, who is a supporter of the Ayatollah regime of Iran. He is not lacking in rhetoric against Israel and still has a very uncompromising and hateful attitude towards Israel. He has been placed on the back-burner for the time being and we do not know if Iran's attitude towards him will change as a result of Ruhani's rhetoric towards peace with the West.
Much groundwork still has to be done in order to confirm Iran's intentions. Iran's hostility towards Israel has to change and Israel must show its readiness to accept that change as well. It would be in Israel's interests to give Obama a chance to use diplomacy to get rid of Iran's nuclear weapon capability and give the US support. Any deviation towards Israel military action against Iran will not achieve anything. The whole Middle East is potentially under nuclear threat from Iran and the US has interests in curbing that threat to zero.
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