Prime Minister Netanyahu
Photo: Emil Salman/Pool
Netanyahu: 'To think there are no limitations with Trump would be wrong'
The prime minister clarifies to Bennett and Shaked, who urged him to renounce the idea of a two-state solution or a Palestinian state in his meeting at the White House, that his single motivation is Israel's national interests; 'We must act with responsibility and rationality,' the PM says of the upcoming meeting.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to lower expectations for a drastic change in American policies now that President Donald Trump is in the White House, telling Likud ministers on Sunday that "to think there are no limitations now would be wrong."
Speaking of his upcoming meeting with Trump on Wednesday, the prime minister said that "we must act with responsibility and rationality."
"Trump and I know each other for many years, but this is the first time we'll be meeting as US president and prime minister," he added.
Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: EPA)
At the beginning of the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu explained that "this meeting is very important for Israel's security and its international status. I've been holding numerous consultations ahead of the meeting with officials from the defense establishment, the National Security Council and the Foreign Ministry."
Bayit Yehudi Ministers, including party leader Naftali Bennett, have urged Netanyahu to distance himself from the two state solution and the idea of establishing a Palestinian state during his meeting with Trump.
Justice Minister Ayeled Shaked, also of Bayit Yehudi, added fuel to the fire: "The Republican Party has removed the establishment of a Palestinian state from its platform, so there is no reason a right wing Israeli government should push it to the left. I call on the prime minister to renounce the idea of a Palestinian state and offer an alternative."
Likud Ministers attacked the calls from Bayit Yehudi, with Culture Minister Miri Regev telling Bennett, "No one will teach the prime minister how to run the country." Minister Ofir Akunis added, "We don't need to answer every tweet, it just gives them power."
Netanyahu offered his own response to Bayit Yehudi, saying "I hear and understand there is great excitement ahead of this meeting, with all kinds of motivations behind it, but my motivation is singular: Israel's national interests. This requires a responsible policy of discretion and this is how I intend to act. I've navigated the relations between Israel and the United States wisely and I will do so now."
The prime minister also addressed the criticism following the US move at the UN to block the appointment of the former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad as a special envoy to Libya.
"It's time there was reciprocity in the treatment of Israel, and you can't keep giving free gifts to the Palestinian side," he explained. "It's time they give status and appointments to the Israeli side as well, if he (Fayyad) is appointed."
