| 'By picking sides, Peres harms prestige of the presidency' |
At a diplomatic event at the President's Residence, Peres
says: Abbas is a man with whom we can reach an agreement • Likud-Beytenu lashes
out against the president expressing personal political opinions in
international forum • Netanyahu not surprised: I respect the president and I
appreciate him. We meet often.
Mati Tuchfeld, Yori Yallon, Shlomo Cesana and Gideon
Allon
|
President
Shimon Peres speaking to foreign ambassadors on Sunday in Jerusalem.
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Photo credit: Yoav Ari
Dudkevitch  | ||||
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Coalition Chairman Zeev Elkin (Likud) harshly criticized
President Shimon Peres on Monday, a day after Peres told a gathering of Israeli
diplomats that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is a brave
potential partner for peace.
"You can easily dig through the archives and find that
Peres made the same statements about Yasser Arafat," Elkin told the Kol Berama
radio station.
Elkin said that the job of the president is to at least
appear impartial.
"A few weeks before an election, [Peres] entered into the
heart of the ideological political debate in Israel, saying very sharp things
and taking a side," Elkin said, adding that Peres had harmed the prestige of the
presidency.
Peres made his statements about Abbas while addressing an
event at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on Sunday that was attended
by 160 Israeli ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from around the
world.
"I have known Abu Mazen [Abbas] for 30 years and no one will change my opinion about him, even if they say that I can't express this opinion because I am president." Peres said. "The president should be allowed to evaluate people according to his experience. [Abbas] is a man with whom we can reach an agreement."
"I have known Abu Mazen [Abbas] for 30 years and no one will change my opinion about him, even if they say that I can't express this opinion because I am president." Peres said. "The president should be allowed to evaluate people according to his experience. [Abbas] is a man with whom we can reach an agreement."
Peres was likely not surprised by the string of harsh
reactions to his statements, just three weeks before national elections. Some
believe that he even wanted to flare tempers.
"It is truly unfortunate that the president would choose
to express his personal political opinions, which are so disconnected from the
Israeli public's with respect to Abu Mazen, a denier of peace," said
Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan, head of the Likud party's
election campaign.
Vice Prime Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon (Likud) said:
"The president does not need to get into political issues, thus I don't want to
have to debate with him over politics. But I can already see other parties
taking advantage of his sentiments, of course to attack us, as they often do in
the international arena. The prime minister has tried from the outset of his
government to get a diplomatic process moving; he was even ready to do a
10-month settlement freeze. But we are not ready to kowtow to Palestinian
demands which they call 'preconditions.' From this perspective, I think we
proved to have a thoughtful, responsible and uncompromising policy with respect
to the Palestinians. Unfortunately, they are manipulating the Israeli public."
Ayala Hason, a political commentator for Channel 1,
summarized on Sunday night reactions from officials in the Labor party. They
believe that Peres is trying to promote Hatnuah ("The Movement") leader Tzipi
Livni in the upcoming elections.
Peres also clarified that he doesn't agree with Abbas'
every word and every action, but he also said: "I know the reality that Abu
Mazen is the only Arab leader who got up and publicly said that he supports
peace and opposes terror. Abu Mazen's actions to prevent terror are brave to the
extent of endangering his own life. Put yourselves in his shoes; you will
discover that his recognition of a solution to the right of return and the fact
that he will not return to Safed, the city he was born in, were important and
brave statements. There is little time. In terms of likelihood, this is the
process that we can carry out today."
Peres also clarified: "We need to directly say that anyone
who doesn't want a solution involving two states for two peoples must offer an
alternative solution. What can happen instead? What will Israel's future be?
Otherwise, the reality will determine the solution, instead of us. A binational
state endangers Zionism, Judaism and democracy in the State of Israel. I would
like to live together as twins, but in such a small land deeply rooted in
hatred, suspicion and cultural gaps it is impossible."
Regarding Israel's status in the world, Peres said: "Our
diplomatic goal has always been to recruit friends and not more enemies. My life
experiences have taught me that diplomacy is an art and that it is possible. We
must shift away from the militant approach to the approach of moderate dialogue.
What appears to be impossible will be possible if we act with intelligence."
The fact that Peres spoke to ambassadors particularly
angered some members of the Likud-Beytenu faction. One official said: "It is
gravely unfortunate that the president would choose to present these political
opinions to a group of ambassadors, encouraging denunciation of Israel in the
international arena. The prime minister has called on Abu Mazen ten times to
return to the negotiating table and even worked hard for it; but Abu Mazen, who
refused even [former Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert's offers, prefers to connect
with Hamas and act against Israel in any arena possible. It is unfortunate that
the president of this country did not explain to these diplomats how
inconsistent Abu Mazen is and that he didn't even condemn the firing of rockets
on Israeli civilians."
In contrast to the Likud party's strong response, Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chose to express an official position, speaking at a
dedication ceremony for the new train station in Beit Shean on Sunday evening.
"I respect the president and I appreciate him. We meet often, including on
Fridays. There are a range of opinions, and we exchange our opinions on many
relevant current issues. This is how it has always been and this is how it will
continue to be."
On Sunday night, the Prime Minister's Office issued an
official statement saying the prime minister is "aware that the president has a
desire to express his opinions on political issues and is not surprised by them.
But the prime minister believes that the president, especially just before
elections, is not supposed to say such things."
Meanwhile, parties on the Left expressed their support for
the president's sentiments, and used the comment as a platform for criticism of
the Likud.
"The Likud lashing out at the president, one of the
symbols of the State of Israel, is aggressive and despicable," said Labor
Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich. "Even under pressure, following a decline in the
polls, does not give the Likud the legitimacy to damage the presidency."
In response to Likud's claims that Peres' comments
encourage international condemnation, Yachimovich said, "It is a contemptible
statement. Peres stops attacks on Israel with his own person and he is our best
ambassador."
Labor MK Isaac (Buji) Herzog added his support as well:
"President Peres decisively and clearly expressed the need for diplomatic
action, rather than declarations and words. The Netanyahu-Lieberman government
has brought us to new heights of international isolation and stagnation that
threatens the future of Israel as a state for the Jewish people."
Hatnuah Chairwoman Tzipi Livni praised Peres. "The
president of Israel acted with appropriate responsibility and told the public
the truth about Israel's situation and its position. This is how anyone who
cares for Israel, certainly the president, should act. Netanyahu must
immediately stop his bullying and the insolent attack by the Likud on the
president. Those who attack the president have not done even a tenth of what he
has for Israel's security, and have only isolated and harmed Israel's security."
Kadima Chairman Shaul Mofaz said: "We must condemn the Likud's
attack on the president, which is based on electoral considerations.
Likud-Beytenu, with respect to policy, is leading Israel toward a Third Intifada
or an arrangement contrary to Israel's interests. Israel must go back and lead
the diplomatic process, to create our future with our own
hands."
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