The building of Jewish settlements in the West Bank in the last three weeks, since the 10-month moratorium on construction ended, has been more than four times faster than in the last two years. Still, the building of 544 homes "has [had] no real effect on the map of a possible (peace) agreement", according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said on the 15th anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin:
You were skeptical and careful, respectful and thoughtful, and you were determined to continue down a road leading to peace. I am a partner to your approach that we must always continue pushing for peace.
In the 15 years that passed, fundamental Islam has strengthened. It won the elections in Gaza, took over southern Lebanon, and has threatened the United States.
So, while persisting for peace, one has to recognise who is behind the threat of this "fundamental Islam". Netanyahu continued:
We do not want to take away from the Palestinian the right to self definition. We want the Jewish state to be recognized and protected. Our insistence on security is not an excuse.
We left Lebanon and now Iran is touching the fence. We left Gaza and now Iran is touching that fence. We cannot let this happen a third time… There is no doubt that Rabin, as a man of security, would have agreed to this insistence.
For Netanyahu, who told Army Radio that he was "a partner to Rabin's approach to peace", the Palestinians can be ready for that peace only if they are ready to accept Israel as a Jewish state because "Israel's security needs are growing, and will continue to grow."
So, how important is that emphasis on security to the Prime Minister? Talking to the Jewish People Policy's annual conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said: "After 2000 years the Jewish people has the strength to defend itself, thus defending the future of the Jewish people means ensuring Israeli security."
The logic of Netanyahu's mentality is that this state, demanding to be recognised based not only on ethnicity but also on a specific religion, shall have a vision and a mission to protect every Jew (not just Israelis) around the world. Conversely every Jew regardless of his/her nationality, should support Israel's official case.