Netanyahu: I warned of Hamastan
Opposition leader says PA crisis result of weak Israeli policies, calls on government to isolate Gaza. Asked about Barak as defense minister, he says, 'I'll be sleeping much better when I know the government's policy has changed'
Netanyahu said he saw a direct link between Israel's disengagement from Gaza in 2005 and the current situation there.
"What we're seeing in Gaza is the inevitable result of our weak, defeatist policies and withdrawal. Every piece of land we evacuate is seized by radical Islam backed by Iran and rockets are launched from there against us," he noted.
"Just like there was every intention to move forward with a unilateral disengagement from Judea and Samaria, from areas that control Jerusalem and the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Fortunately, that plan is currently off the agenda. Unilateral withdrawal is not the road to peace and security. What I said two years ago is now clear to everyone."
Was there a way to prevent the current situation?
"Of course. Why isn't there a Hamastan in Judea and Samaria? Because the IDF is there. Of course, we should aspire to reach diplomatic agreements with the Palestinians, but only if there is a real partner for peace and only if there are security arrangements. Both did not exist during the disengagement, which in fact paved the way for Hamas' rise to power and for the political and then military takeover of the Gaza Strip.
"The unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon created 'Hizbullahstan' – the first Iranian base in northern Israel, and now we got 'Hamastan' – the second Iranian base in southern Israel."
Netanyahu believes that Israel's security problems are not the army's problems.
"This is a result of an erroneous policy of Israel's leaders, or actually of the prime ministers since the withdrawal from Lebanon and onward," hinting at former Prime Minister Ehud Barak who ordered the IDF to withdraw from Gaza and is now about to be appointed defense minister.
Is there a way to solve what is happening in Gaza today? If you were prime minister, what would you do?
"First of all, I would besiege Gaza, strengthen the military siege on Gaza and the economic and diplomatic isolation of the Hamas regime. Over time, Israel will not be able to allow the existence and strengthening of an Iranian base near Be'er Sheva and Tel Aviv.
"We can and it is possible to recruit neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan, with the help of the United States, in order to tighten the siege on Hamas and undermine the stability of its regime. The goal should eventually lead to the destruction of the Hamas rule and to its replacement with moderate forces."
Netanyahu added that he would not send IDF ground forces to the Strip just yet. "At the moment I would wait."
According to the opposition leader, if the "evil" does not stop, this would eventually lead to Hamas arming itself with missiles which will be able to reach "far beyond Ashkelon and deep into Israel."
As for the Philadelphi route, he said, "I believe it would also have to be closed. The best thing would of course be if Egypt would take part in this mission, which is also important for them. We have to find the appropriate solution. At the moment I would suggest strengthening the forces around and preparing for different possibilities rather than acting with haste."
How should Israel treat Fatah?
"I believe there are more moderate elements in the Palestinian society, and they are definitely represented by Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas). The problem is that they are weak. Not in terms of weapons or financial means. They are weak in terms of using their national willpower in order to fight for their future, in the face of the radicals who are threatening both them and us.
"We have to hope that they become stronger, and must also assume that they won't, and do all it takes in order to stabilize and prevent a situation like what happened in Judea and Samaria. This can be done by leaving the IDF there and not removing it, and secondly, by working to recruit Jordan to help us stabilize the Palestinian territories west of Jordan in terms of security."
Do you sleep better with Ehud Barak as defense minister?
"I will sleep much quietly when I'll know the policy has changed, and to this moment it is not clear to me what the government's policy is. That is why we are calling for new elections, in which the people would be able to choose between our way, which has proven to be responsible and sane, which anticipated this situation, and is related to reality.
"The disengagement policy was in fact a disengagement from reality. A sort of policy ignoring the danger, a sort of 'after me the deluge,' and the deluge is indeed here."
Do you feel like someone who can say 'I told you so'?
"I regret the fact that each of my warnings came true. I would rather have a different reality. We are in need of a different, sober leadership, which does not zigzag between weakness and adventurousness, which can correctly read the development of things. This is what we were lacking then, and unfortunately I believe that we also lacking it today."
