Netanyahu: In This Cruel World, You Have to Be Strong to Survive

Shlomo Cesana; Efrat Forsher; Yori Yalon; Lilach Shoval; Israel Hayom Staff

Netanyahu: In This Cruel World, You Have to Be Strong to Survive

PM speaks at National Defense College graduation, says peace is made only between the strong • Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres both meet with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida • Peres: I don’t fear a national referendum on peace deal.

Israel Hayom

2013-07-25


Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida meet in Jerusalem on Wednesday | Photo credit: Miriam Tzachi

“In the Middle East and in the cruel world in which we live, in order to survive, you have to be strong,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday night, at the graduation ceremony of the National Defense College. “This was true in Theodor Herzl’s time and it is especially true in our time.”

“Peace is only made between the strong,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu assured the class that Israel would not entrust its security to others, saying, “Israel will always defend itself by itself against any threat, near or far. Maintaining this capability, preparing, developing and operating as necessary — this is our national security. I am certain that each one of you will contribute to it in your own way.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Netanyahu met with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. Netanyahu recognized that both countries face threats from rogue nations with nuclear weapons programs: Iran and North Korea.

“On Iran, it is crucial that we see a change in Iran’s policy, not a change in style, but a change in substance,” Netanyahu said. “And that can only be gauged by [Iran] meeting the demands of the United Nations Security Council.”

The Iranian nuclear issue was also discussed at a meeting in London on Wednesday between Strategic Affairs Minister Dr. Yuval Steinitz and British Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Kishida also met with President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Peres expressed appreciation for Japan’s role in efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Peres said that Japan, which has suffered the most from nuclear weapons, understands the danger a nuclear Iran would pose.

Peres said he hoped economic sanctions would succeed in thwarting Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Also on Wednesday, Peres told the U.S.-based Arabic-language Alhurra media outlet that he did not fear a national referendum on a peace deal reached with the Palestinians, as he believes a majority of Israelis want peace.

With the renewal of talks with the Palestinians, bereaved families are planning to launch a campaign against the release of convicted Palestinian terrorists from Israeli jails. Demonstrators are planning to picket outside the cabinet meeting on Sunday. The Almagor Terror Victims Association, activists from the My Israel, Im Tirzu, and Young Likud groups and rightist MKs will take part in the protest. Also, an Almagor representative planned to try to present Netanyahu on Thursday with a letter seeking a meeting.