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| Netanyahu says no Palestinian state if he wins | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| JERUSALEM — On the final day of his reelection campaign, Benjamin Netanyahu said that as long as he serves as prime minister of Israel, there will not be an independent Palestinian nation. | JERUSALEM — On the final day of his reelection campaign, Benjamin Netanyahu said that as long as he serves as prime minister of Israel, there will not be an independent Palestinian nation. |
| His assertion, made on camera to an Israeli media site, appeared to reverse Netanyahu’s previous declarations of support, with reservations and only after negotiations, of the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state. | His assertion, made on camera to an Israeli media site, appeared to reverse Netanyahu’s previous declarations of support, with reservations and only after negotiations, of the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state. |
| “I think that anyone who is going to establish a Palestinian state today and evacuate lands is giving attack grounds to the radical Islam against the state of Israel,” he said in a video interview published Monday on the NRG Web site. | “I think that anyone who is going to establish a Palestinian state today and evacuate lands is giving attack grounds to the radical Islam against the state of Israel,” he said in a video interview published Monday on the NRG Web site. |
| “Anyone who ignores this is sticking his head in the sand. The left does this time and time again,” Netanyahu said. “We are realistic and understand.” | “Anyone who ignores this is sticking his head in the sand. The left does this time and time again,” Netanyahu said. “We are realistic and understand.” |
| Asked specially if he meant a Palestinian state would not be established if he were reelected prime minister, he answered, “Indeed.” | Asked specially if he meant a Palestinian state would not be established if he were reelected prime minister, he answered, “Indeed.” |
| In a speech at Bar Ilan University in 2009, Netanyahu famously said he supported a two-state solution to end the Israel-Palestinian conflict. That speech and two rounds of U.S.-brokered peace talks since then led many to assume that the prime minister was prepared to see a Palestinian state arise on the West Bank and Gaza. | In a speech at Bar Ilan University in 2009, Netanyahu famously said he supported a two-state solution to end the Israel-Palestinian conflict. That speech and two rounds of U.S.-brokered peace talks since then led many to assume that the prime minister was prepared to see a Palestinian state arise on the West Bank and Gaza. |
| The NRG interview hit the Internet soon after Netanyahu came to a Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem on Monday and warned that if it were not for him and his right-wing Likud party, residents here would be next-door neighbors with the Islamist militant movement Hamas. | The NRG interview hit the Internet soon after Netanyahu came to a Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem on Monday and warned that if it were not for him and his right-wing Likud party, residents here would be next-door neighbors with the Islamist militant movement Hamas. |
| [A guide to the political parties battling for Israel’s future] | |
| At a news conference at which journalists were not allowed to ask questions, Netanyahu stood at a lectern on the terrace of Yaron and Sigal Hakoshrein’s new condominium apartment, framed by building cranes over his shoulder, towering above units under construction. | At a news conference at which journalists were not allowed to ask questions, Netanyahu stood at a lectern on the terrace of Yaron and Sigal Hakoshrein’s new condominium apartment, framed by building cranes over his shoulder, towering above units under construction. |
| Netanyahu called his host to stand beside him and asked on camera, “Do you want to see Hamastan over there on that mountaintop?” He then pointed in the general direction of Bethlehem, the Palestinian city in the West Bank where the Bible says Jesus was born. | Netanyahu called his host to stand beside him and asked on camera, “Do you want to see Hamastan over there on that mountaintop?” He then pointed in the general direction of Bethlehem, the Palestinian city in the West Bank where the Bible says Jesus was born. |
| Yaron Hakoshrein, a Likud activist, shook his head and said no. | Yaron Hakoshrein, a Likud activist, shook his head and said no. |
| “Then there is only one answer, then you have to put the voting slip for Likud in the ballot box,” Netanyahu said. | “Then there is only one answer, then you have to put the voting slip for Likud in the ballot box,” Netanyahu said. |
| The message was not subtle — but it sure was direct. | The message was not subtle — but it sure was direct. |
| Israelis who fear that Hamas will take over the West Bank, as it did the Gaza Strip in 2007, have adopted the shorthand “Hamastan” to express that concern. Hamas is branded a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States. Israel and Hamas fought a 50-day war in the summer. | Israelis who fear that Hamas will take over the West Bank, as it did the Gaza Strip in 2007, have adopted the shorthand “Hamastan” to express that concern. Hamas is branded a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States. Israel and Hamas fought a 50-day war in the summer. |
| On Sunday night, Netanyahu warned supporters at a rally in Tel Aviv that he may not win Tuesday’s election, a potentially dramatic fall for a consummate political survivor whose nine years in office transformed him into the public face of contemporary Israel. | On Sunday night, Netanyahu warned supporters at a rally in Tel Aviv that he may not win Tuesday’s election, a potentially dramatic fall for a consummate political survivor whose nine years in office transformed him into the public face of contemporary Israel. |
| [Netanyahu warns supporters he may lose in Tuesday’s elections] | |
| The final round of opinion polls Friday showed Netanyahu and his Likud party facing a surprisingly strong challenge by Isaac Herzog, leader of the center-left Labor Party, and his running mate, former peace negotiator Tzipi Livni, who hold a small but steady lead. | The final round of opinion polls Friday showed Netanyahu and his Likud party facing a surprisingly strong challenge by Isaac Herzog, leader of the center-left Labor Party, and his running mate, former peace negotiator Tzipi Livni, who hold a small but steady lead. |
| For the past five days, Netanyahu has been working to bulk up support among his nationalist right-wing base, warning Israelis that his challengers would “give away land for peace” to the Palestinians, would divide the “eternal capital of Israel” and would turn over the eastern sections to the Palestinians for a future state. | For the past five days, Netanyahu has been working to bulk up support among his nationalist right-wing base, warning Israelis that his challengers would “give away land for peace” to the Palestinians, would divide the “eternal capital of Israel” and would turn over the eastern sections to the Palestinians for a future state. |
| [Why Israel’s top right-winger wants his people to “stop apologizing.”] | |
| Netanyahu has vowed “no concessions” and “no withdrawals” from the West Bank, suggesting that he is now opposed to resuming talks and to the creation of a Palestinian state. | Netanyahu has vowed “no concessions” and “no withdrawals” from the West Bank, suggesting that he is now opposed to resuming talks and to the creation of a Palestinian state. |
| Over the past quarter-century, Israel and the Palestinians have engaged in many talks that failed to bear fruit. The last one, brokered by Secretary of State John F. Kerry, collapsed April with both sides pointing the finger of blame at the other. | Over the past quarter-century, Israel and the Palestinians have engaged in many talks that failed to bear fruit. The last one, brokered by Secretary of State John F. Kerry, collapsed April with both sides pointing the finger of blame at the other. |
| In a statement issued from his Likud party a week ago, Netanyahu was quoted as saying that his past support for an independent Palestinian state is now irrelevant. | In a statement issued from his Likud party a week ago, Netanyahu was quoted as saying that his past support for an independent Palestinian state is now irrelevant. |
| “In the Mideast today, any evacuated territory will be overtaken by radical Islam and terror groups backed by Iran. Therefore, there will be no withdrawals and no concessions. It’s just not relevant,” read a statement released by the Likud party, attributing the remark to Netanyahu. | “In the Mideast today, any evacuated territory will be overtaken by radical Islam and terror groups backed by Iran. Therefore, there will be no withdrawals and no concessions. It’s just not relevant,” read a statement released by the Likud party, attributing the remark to Netanyahu. |
| Hours later, the prime minister’s office released a statement saying Netanyahu had said no such thing, causing more confusion. | Hours later, the prime minister’s office released a statement saying Netanyahu had said no such thing, causing more confusion. |
| Afterward, Netanyahu’s spokesman attempted to clarify matters by stating that the prime minister meant to say that “under current conditions in the Middle East, any land that is handed over would be grabbed by Islamist extremists.” | Afterward, Netanyahu’s spokesman attempted to clarify matters by stating that the prime minister meant to say that “under current conditions in the Middle East, any land that is handed over would be grabbed by Islamist extremists.” |
| The Palestinian Authority under President Mahmoud Abbas, who oversees part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has vowed to pursue a path of nonviolence and has coordinated its security responsibilities with Israeli forces. | The Palestinian Authority under President Mahmoud Abbas, who oversees part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has vowed to pursue a path of nonviolence and has coordinated its security responsibilities with Israeli forces. |
| Netanyahu’s campaign staged its Monday news event at the Jewish settlement of Har Homa in East Jerusalem for a reason. During his first term as prime minister, Netanyahu approved construction there. | Netanyahu’s campaign staged its Monday news event at the Jewish settlement of Har Homa in East Jerusalem for a reason. During his first term as prime minister, Netanyahu approved construction there. |
| Netanyahu said that settlement construction at Har Homa was not only to provide housing for residents, but to deny Palestinians territory and contiguity. | Netanyahu said that settlement construction at Har Homa was not only to provide housing for residents, but to deny Palestinians territory and contiguity. |
| Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are considered illegal under international law. U.S. diplomats prefer to call the settlements “illegitimate.” The Israelis dispute this. | Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are considered illegal under international law. U.S. diplomats prefer to call the settlements “illegitimate.” The Israelis dispute this. |
| “It’s a neighborhood that I initiated in 1997 in my first stint as prime minister,” Netanyahu said. “I did it after I saw the potential of this area. It was a way of stopping Bethlehem from moving toward Jerusalem.” | “It’s a neighborhood that I initiated in 1997 in my first stint as prime minister,” Netanyahu said. “I did it after I saw the potential of this area. It was a way of stopping Bethlehem from moving toward Jerusalem.” |
| The prime minister said, “This neighborhood, exactly because it stops the continued advancement of the Palestinians . . . I saw the potential was really great. Now I see how much it has paid off.” | The prime minister said, “This neighborhood, exactly because it stops the continued advancement of the Palestinians . . . I saw the potential was really great. Now I see how much it has paid off.” |
| Ruth Eglash contributed to this report. | Ruth Eglash contributed to this report. |
| A guide to the political parties battling for Israel’s future | |
| Could underdog Isaac Herzog win the Israeli election? | |
| Israel’s Arab political parties have united for the first time |