Text: PM Netanyahu to Knesset: No restriction on construction in Jerusalem

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:57:32 EST

No government of Israel for the last 40 years has agreed to place
restrictions on building in Jerusalem - not Levi Eshkol, not Golda Meir, not
Menachem Begin, not Shimon Peres, not Yitzhak Shamir, not Yitzhak Rabin, not
Ariel Sharon, not Ehud Barak, not Ehud Olmert.

During that time, all these governments have built in the suburbs of
Jerusalem - in Gilo, in Ramot, in Neve Yaakov, in Ramat Eshkol, in French
Hill, in Pisgat Zeev, in Ramat Shlomo and elsewhere.

The establishment of these Jewish suburbs did not harm the Arabs of East
Jerusalem in any shape or form and did not come at their expense.

Today, nearly half of Jerusalem's Jewish population lives in these suburbs.
None of these places are far away, they are all a few minutes travel from
here. They are all within six kilometers of the Israeli Knesset.

Regardless of whatever political differences there may be in this house
regarding the final-status agreement, the ultimate borders of Israel,
everyone agrees that all of these neighborhoods will remain part of Israel
in any final peace settlement.

We will continue to keep Jerusalem an open city accessible to all religions.

A city where Jews and Arabs, Christians and Muslims live in together and
have freedom of religion and access to religious sites.

PM Netanyahu's Address in honor of Brazilian President Lula da Silva
Translation
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Honorable President da Silva and Mrs. da Silva, welcome to Israel and
welcome to united Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, the eternal city and the
city of the Bible. The Knesset and People of Israel extend a warm welcome
to you.

Mr. President of Brazil,

You are the elected leader of a famed country, whose color, vitality and
many achievements have earned it the admiration of the entire world.

The very essence of the word 'Brazil' is enchanting. It conjures up a rich
and captivating culture, a joy of living which is portrayed through music,
dance, carnivals and football.

I must reveal a state secret to you - among the citizens of Israel, there
are those who have yellow shirts in their cupboards - far more than you can
imagine. I don't want to cause a diplomatic incident by telling you who I
support as we take part in the same international matches, but I will come
back to Brazilian football at the end of my speech.

Mr. President,

I visited your country during the 1980's and I was deeply impressed by its
vast potential. Two decades have passed since then and the entire world
sees how this potential has been realized.

Under your leadership, Brazil has made enormous strides in establishing
itself as a rising world power. I am convinced that Brazil has no less than
a glowing future.

I wish to see Israel become a regional economic superpower and a world
technological superpower that adheres to its values and lives in peace with
its neighbors. In spite of the difficulties, I believe that Israel is on
its way to achieving this. I believe that cooperation between Israel and
Brazil will help both our countries realize their visions.

Israel and Brazil's respective developments in the fields of economics,
technology, culture and many other fields provide fertile ground for
cooperation between our two countries.

The free trade agreement between Israel and Brazil, within the framework of
the "Mercosur" agreement, and the mutual trade amounting to one and a half
billion dollars per year are the first manifestations of this cooperation.
I believe that in several years time we will look back and be amazed that it
was only one and a half billion dollars per year. I anticipate that our
discussions will enable us to take steps to increase this number.

Mr. President,

The State of Israel will never forget the historic role played by Oswaldo
Aranha, the Brazilian politician who was the President of the UN in November
1947, more than sixty-two years ago.

The topic on the agenda was the resolution relating to the establishment of
a Jewish state. The Jewish people, who lost six million of its sons and
daughters in the Holocaust, were waiting for redemption - for the
establishment of an independent Jewish state in the Land of Israel.

The Brazilian politician Aranha defeated the UN Assembly when he made the
historic decision that our people will never forget.

I know that you are well aware of the great change that occurred to our
people. Two months ago you visited the "Kahal Tzur Yisrael" Synagogue, the
first synagogue to be built on the American continent.

This synagogue was established almost four hundred years ago in the city of
Recife, the capital of the State of Pernambuco, the state in which you were
born.

Mr. President, you asked to hold the ceremony marking International
Holocaust Remembrance Day in this synagogue.

Remembrance Day is not only intended to commemorate the memory of the
Holocaust but also to raise awareness of the dangers facing mankind from
extremist states and regimes, both in the past and in the present.

Precisely because of this, Mr. President, I appeal to you in the hope that
Brazil will join the ever-growing international front opposed to a
nuclear-armed Iran.

I believe that the Iranian regime represents diametrically-opposed values to
those represented by the Brazilian culture and people.

They are motivated by tyranny and cruelty. You represent openness and
tolerance.

They oppress women and minorities. You advocate freedom and equality.

They worship death. You celebrate life.

The Iranian regime denies the Holocaust, calls for the destruction of
Israel, develops nuclear weapons and supports terrorist organizations.

Today, Iran is the greatest threat to stability and peace in the Middle
East.

I believe that Brazil's unique position enables it to take part in a wider
and stronger coalition consisting of many countries that aim to restrain the
serious danger that Iran's nuclear armament presents to regional and world
peace.

Honorable President da Silva,

The State of Israel will continue to work to advance peace in our region, as
we have done during the past year.

From day one of the establishment of our government, we have repeatedly
called for negotiations with the Palestinians. We have taken several
steps, both in word and deed, to advance peace.

In my speech at Bar-Ilan University, I called upon the Israelis and
Palestinians to live side by side in peace and security, with the
Palestinians living in a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes the
State of Israel.

We worked to advance peace by removing hundreds of roadblocks and
checkpoints to ease movement for the Palestinians. We facilitated
Palestinian economic development and announced an unprecedented step: a
ten-month moratorium on new construction in Judea and Samaria.

Regrettably, while we have taken all these steps, the Palestinian Authority
placed preconditions for talks, waged a campaign to undermine Israel's
legitimacy and regrettably failed to rein in expressions of incitement
against Israel in their official media.

We all know a simple rule.

The only way to achieve a peace agreement is begin negotiating a peace
agreement.

We are prepared to begin negotiations for peace at any time, including right
now. I am not saying this only in relation to the Palestinians but also in
regards to our other neighbors - to the Syrians and others.

We desire peace.

I hope that the Palestinians will not once again place preconditions on
talks - preconditions that have never been placed on any Israeli government
and which would be unacceptable to any Israeli government.

During that time, all these governments have built in the suburbs of
Jerusalem - in Gilo, in Ramot, in Neve Yaakov, in Ramat Eshkol, in French
Hill, in Pisgat Zeev, in Ramat Shlomo and elsewhere.

The establishment of these Jewish suburbs did not harm the Arabs of East
Jerusalem in any shape or form and did not come at their expense.

We will continue to keep Jerusalem an open city accessible to all religions.

A city where Jews and Arabs, Christians and Muslims live in together and
have freedom of religion and access to religious sites.

Mr. President,

You, your wife and your entourage are dear, honored and desired guests in
Jerusalem and in the State of Israel.

Your visit is important for strengthening the friendship between our peoples
and the cooperation and common interests between our two countries.

Mr. President, I also appreciate that we think alike on a very important
topic.

During one of my most recent meetings with the leader of a certain European
country - I won't say which country so as to avoid causing a diplomatic
incident, an argument took place:

Who is the greatest footballer of all times?

He said Maradona. I said Pele!

He insisted that it was Maradona. I didn't give in and said Pele!

I told him that Pele represents the best of Brazilian football, the
Brazilian spirit. He flies over the pitch. He handles the ball skillfully
and with an amazing art, ease and elegance.

He said Maradona.

We agreed to disagree.

I am sure that like me, you share the wish that one day this will be the
worst disagreement between leaders in the region.

When that day comes, when we can sit together with our neighbors, to develop
the region, to develop our children's future, to develop a buzzing,
overflowing economy, with the help of countries and superpowers such as
Brazil, I am sure that then we will know that we also achieved the
long-awaited peace with Brazil's help.

Welcome to Jerusalem, Mr. President.

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Text: PM Netanyahu to Knesset: No restriction on construction in Jerusalem