Yes, the speech gives a well-balanced image. But is it ?
On the Palestinian side, they insist to apply the ‘’International Laws’’. That is what I call a Political approach.
But the State of Israel has been ‘’allowed’’ (through the veto mechanism) to ignore the very international laws which presided over its 1947 creation.
The U.S. VP Mike Pence speech at the Knesset was a clear justification of a Religious approach :
“ In the story of the Jews, we’ve always seen the story of America. It is the story of an exodus, a journey from persecution to freedom, a story that shows the power of faith and the promise of hope. My country’s very first settlers also saw themselves as pilgrims, sent by Providence, to build a new Promised Land.”
How should Israeli Arabs, Palestinians, and American Indians feel like ? The President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, did say (2015) that the Israeli ‘’Arabs’’ are one of the key ‘’tribes’’ of Israel. Are they really ?
Well, Pence does not hide what his thoughts are :
<<America’s first president, George Washington, wrote with favor to “the children of the stock of Abraham.” Our second president, John Adams, declared that the Jews, in his words, “have done more to civilize man than any other nation.”>>
“We stand with Israel because your cause is our cause, your values are our values, and your fight is our fight. We stand with Israel because we believe in right over wrong, in good over evil, and in liberty over tyranny.”
At the beginning of his speech, Pence mentioned the State of Istael as a “vibrant democracy’’. Of course, by definition, a Religious State cannot be democratic. Today, there are dozens of laws which -directly & indirectly- discriminate against the Arab Citizens of Israel. I also remind that their rights are not guaranteed by the Constitution, as Israel failed to deliver the expected democratic Constitution, which was announced for 1948. The boundaries of Israel have never been defined by Israel, since 1948.
Of course, Pence also puts that “the United States of America will support a two-state solution. (…) we strongly urge the Palestinian leadership to return to the table. Peace can only come through dialogue.”
The dialogue Pence & Netanyahu are talking about is supposed to bring the Palestinians to accept to become a protectorate under total control of Israel.
