PM, KNESSET SPEAKER & OTHER PREVIOUSLY UNTRANSLATED
ISRAELI PRONOUNCEMENTS OPPOSING PALESTINIAN STATE, MAY 2009

(translations and parenthetic explanations by Susie Dym, spokesperson for
Mattot Arim, www.mattotarim.org)

NETANYAHU TO LIKUD MK'S: DEPUTY FM'S STATEMENTS FAVORING PALESTINIAN STATE
"are not my (PM's) policy"
"The political mist was enhanced by the pronouncement of Deputy Foregn
Minister Danny Ayalon (Yisrael Beytenu party) that the solution to the
conflict is two states for two people. In the Likud faction's meeting on
Monday, Knesset Member Zipi Hutabeli asked how such a statement could have
been uttered by an official governmental personality. Netanyahu responded
that this was not his policy, and added: "I will check how it came about
that the Deputy Foreign Minister made this statement". 8 MAY 2009 - MAKOR
RISHON NEWSPAPER

SPEAKER OF THE KNESSET, MK RUBY RIVLIN: "A Palestinian state is a recipe for
the destruction of the state of Israel."
COVER STORY HEADLINE, MAGAZINE SECTION OF MAKOR RISHON, 1 MAY 2009
In the body of the interview, Rivlin also divulged: "A day or two before
(former Premier Ariel) Sharon left us (suffered a debilitating stroke, i.e.)
from the point of view of his ability to converse, he told me: "I can only
tell you one thing -- there will be no more unilateral disengagement. There
will be no more destroying of Jewish homes in the Land of Israel."
Reporter: Did he regret the disenagement?
Speaker: He said this out of a deep conviction that perhaps his decision was
not correct, both politically and from a Zionist point of view.

KNESSET MEMBER AND FORMER RADIO CELEBRITY: Palestinian state will turn the
entire country into a military front
"The distribution agents of the slogan [two states for two peoples] are
working around the clock. They repeat the "two-state" mantra everywhere as
though it had descended from Mount Sinai together with the Torah. As though
this were the solution rather than the problem. After the failure of the
idea of Peace Now with the Palestinians, after the terrible tragedy
engendered by unilateral disengagment, we are being hit by an idea that will
turn the entire country into a military front. The same goods with a
different slogan, which would even sound just had it not come from Mars.

"However, we are not from Mars, we are not leftists and we did not prefer
Netanyahu as prime-minister so he could sell us catchy slogans from (Arab
party) Hadash and Kadima. Two states for two peoples, if rephrased in a
slightly less popular manner, means establishing a Palestinian state and
deporting tens of thousands of Jews from their homes."
MK URI ORBACH (NATIONAL HOME PARTY), WRITING IN MAKOR RISHON NEWSPAPER, 8
MAY 2009

DIASPORA MINISTER: NETANYAHU WON'T RECOGNIZE PALESTINIAN STATE.
(Diaspora Minister Yuli) Edelstein said that "Even the Americans understand
that establishing a Palestinain state is not simple....I hear positive
messages from his surroundings, that he will not give in on the demand for
recognition as Isarel as a Jewish state, and will not recognize a
Palestinian state....There are ministers that express this in (Likud)
faction meetings and in the meantime Netanyahu sounds like he is on our
side".
MAKOR RISHON NEWSPAPER, 8 MAY 2009

MINISTER OF INTERIOR: PM AGREES WE SHOULD SOLVE IRAN BEFORE PEACE PROCESS
(Minister of Interior and Shas Chairman Eli) Yishai says that the peace
process cannot be renewed before 5 conditions have been fulfilled:
palestinain recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, cessation of
incitement, a solution to the Iranian problem, cessation of Hizbualla teror,
and termination of Hamas rule in Gaza. "Without quiet nad security
stabilityi, Israel should not endanger itself. We saw what happened in the
disengagment....In the end, the Palestinains got Gush Katif and we got the
Kassam (rockets)".

Reporter: Did you tell this to the Prime Minister?

"Yes. He said, absolutely fine."
MAKOR RISHON NEWSPAPER, 8 MAY 2009

MK, FORMER WELFARE MINISTER: "The Palestinian state is Jordan"
Veteran parliamentarian from Jewish Home party, Zvulun) Orlev is worried
that Netanyahu will come back from Washington leaving concessions behind
him. Perhaps not this time, but in his second or third visit....."The Likud
is not willing to go for the platform of the Jewish Home and say that the
Palestinain state is Jordan and that this is where the Arabs of Yehuda and
Shomron should find their natioanl expression. In any event, Netanyahu
should tell Obama: There were elections in Israel, and I need to respect the
democratic decision. There is a large majority in the Knessset and in the
coaltion that rules out establishing a Palesitnian state. What is more, it
is not realistic. Olmert, Livni and Sharon did not succeed, so let us speak
of temporary solutions."
MAKOR RISHON NEWSPAPER, 8 MAY 2009

SMALL RIGHTWING PARTY: IF NETANYAHU SAYS YES TO TWO-STATE, "it's the
beginning of the end of his gov't"
MK Uri Ariel, National Union party: "It is not possible to set up two states
between the Jordan and the Mediterranean. If Netanyahu goes for that, that
will be the beginning of the end of his government."
MAKOR RISHON NEWSPAPER, 8 MAY 2009

YNET REPORT: Rehovot: opposed to Palestinian state
Acting mayor Rahamim Maloul and Majority of City Councilmen Approach Prime
Minister: A Palestinian State Will Endanger Us
"Protest: The city of Rehovot's acting mayor and the majority of the city
councilmen have sent the prime minister an ugent letter expressing concern
that a Palestinian state if established could bring the city of Rehovot into
rocket range.

"The letter has been signed by Rachamim Maloul, Uzi Salant (candidate for
mayor), Shimshon Zur (local list), Hanania Weinberger (another mayoral
candidate), Benzi Sharabi, Gilad Mizrachi and Giora Ben-Ari (Likud), Avner
Akoa, Pinchas Hominer and Shay Kazayof (united ultra-orthodox list),
Menachem Klein and Shaul Libi (NRP) and Yafim Zaika (Rehovot Beytenu).

"Another city councilman who expressed opposition to Palestinain state is
the elected mayor of Rehovot, Shuki Forer, whose period of service has been
set aside pending results of his trial for breach of trust. Mr. Forer
submitted a letter to residents of Rehovot, prior to his re-election,
according to which "I will not let Rehovot come into rocket range -- I will
not allow a Palestinian state to be established...I will do everything I can
to prevent establishment of a Palestinian state...to ensure that Rehovot
will not be within rocket range of a new terror state".

"Councilmen's signatures were obtained by Rehovot residents from several
sectors; academics, Russian speakers, Yemenite emigres, ultra-orthodox, and
old-timers. The residents distributed the letter between themselves manually
and by e-mail.
http://www.mynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3711559,00.html 6 MAY 2009