Weekly Commentary: Telling what truth at the UN?

Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 15 September 2011

“You cannot build peace on a foundation of lies…I have decided to convey
these twin messages of direct negotiations for peace and the quest for peace
through the quest for the truth. I’ve decided to take this message the
United Nations General Assembly when I speak there next week…not to win
applause, but to speak the truth to every nation that wants to hear the
truth.”
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu 15 September 2011

Here are two key “truths”:

First and foremost, it is appropriate for Prime Minister Netanyahu to
“chapter and verse” the absolutely uncontestable meaning of UNSC 242 at the
time it was passed by the UN Security Council.

The Arab assertion that UNSC 242 requires that Israel agree to swap
sovereign Israeli territory for any square centimeter it retains beyond the
Green Line is a barefaced lie.

The Arabs can repeat billion times that UNSC 242 requires total Israeli
withdrawal, but the intentional, deliberate and intensively discussed
decision not to include the word “the” in the phrase “[W]ithdrawal of
Israeli armed forces from territories” serves as irrefutable testimony that
the intention of the representatives who approved UNSC 242 was that Israel
was not required to completely withdraw.

This is an issue that deserves much more than an eloquent sound bite.

It calls for citing quotes from officials who represented the major
participants in the vote – even using visual devices to highlight that
Israel respects and embraces the true UNSC 242 and not the fake 242 of the
Arabs.

The Palestinian assertion that they enjoy some kind of universal right to
“resist the occupation” by all means under international law is also a gross
lie.

Mr. Netanyahu should take the opportunity when he addresses the General
Assembly to explain how Yasser Arafat, on behalf of the Palestinians,
forfeited their so-called “right to (violent) resistance” as the entrance
fee for Oslo. He did this in the exchange of letters with Prime Minister
Rabin at the launching of Oslo and this commitment was repeated in the
series of agreements that followed.

The Palestinian lie that they legally have the option to murder Israelis if
they believe it serves their interests has had a profoundly destructive
impact on the “peace process”.

I sincerely hope that these two “truths” do indeed find the prominent place
in Mr. Netanyahu’s presentation that they so rightfully deserve.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il