PM Netanyahu video:
https://youtu.be/G8CUFSHB114
and with Arabic subtitles:
https://youtu.be/WfUhRlgX-oQ
===============
Elizabeth Trudeau
Director, Press Office
Daily Press Briefing
Washington, DC
September 9, 2016
TRANSCRIPT:
2:03 p.m. EDT

...

QUESTION: You may have seen – I think you have seen this video that Prime
Minister Netanyahu has put out today in social media talking about
settlements and talking about the Palestinians wanting to have a state that
is – that has no Jews in it at all and saying that this is ethnic cleansing.
And he also complains that – well, he says that that demand is outrageous,
that it’s even more outrageous that the world doesn’t find it outrageous.
And then he says some otherwise enlightened countries even promote this
outrage.

So I’m just wondering, do you see yourselves – does the U.S., this
Administration, see itself as a target of this accusation? And whether it
does or not, what do you make of the general thought expressed?

MS TRUDEAU: So we have seen the Israeli prime minister’s video. We obviously
strongly disagree with the characterization that those who oppose settlement
activity or view it as an obstacle to peace are somehow calling for ethnic
cleansing of Jews from the West Bank. We believe that using that type of
terminology is inappropriate and unhelpful. Settlements are a final status
issue that must be resolved in negotiations between the parties. We share
the view of every past U.S. administration and the strong consensus of the
international community that ongoing settlement activity is an obstacle to
peace. We continue to call on both sides to demonstrate with actions and
policies a genuine commitment to the two-state solution.

We have repeatedly expressed our strong concerns that trends on the ground
continue to move in the opposite direction. Let’s be clear: The undisputed
fact is that already this year, thousands of settlement units have been
advanced for Israelis in the West Bank, illegal outposts and unauthorized
settlement units have been retroactively legalized, more West Bank land has
been seized for exclusive Israeli use, and there has been a dramatic
escalation of demolitions resulting in over 700 Palestinian structures
destroyed, displacing more than 1,000 Palestinians. As we’ve said many times
before, this does raise real questions about Israel’s long-term intentions
in the West Bank.

QUESTION: So you’re not a big fan of the video, I take it?

MS TRUDEAU: Correct.

QUESTION: So have you made your – not you personally, but has the
Administration made its feelings clear to – other than your comments just
now to the Israelis?

MS TRUDEAU: Yes. We are engaging in direct conversations with the Israeli
Government on this.

QUESTION: And I mean, is there anything that you can do? I mean, he said
this; he apparently believes it and it’s a pretty strong sentiment. You –
even though disagree with it, I mean, what have you asked him to do? I mean,
have you asked him to walk it back at all or --

MS TRUDEAU: I’m not going to get into our diplomatic discussions. What I
would say is: unhelpful, it’s inappropriate. We’ll have our conversation
with our Israeli allies and friends and we’ll see where that goes.

QUESTION: Do you --

QUESTION: What level is that --

QUESTION: Do you believe --

MS TRUDEAU: One second.

QUESTION: Do you believe that he was referring to the United States when he
talked about some otherwise enlightened countries?

MS TRUDEAU: We would disagree with his broad assessment that – or the broad
assertation – I won’t say assessment – that members of the international
community who have expressed concerns on settlements are somehow expressing
this view.

Nick.

QUESTION: All right, but --

MS TRUDEAU: Oh, I’m sorry, go ahead.

QUESTION: But you don’t dispute that you might be otherwise enlightened.

MS TRUDEAU: I am confident in our interpretation of his comments. Nick.

QUESTION: What level are those discussions happening at? Who is doing the
discussing?

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. I’m not going to read out those, but we are in direct
contact with the Israelis.

QUESTION: (Off-mike.)

MS TRUDEAU: Are we on this one? Tejinder.

QUESTION: Have you got any official question or request from the EU, because
you won’t talk about the diplomatic – about – the most of the destruction
that happens by Israel is the EU-funded projects. So EU is really like – so
have they officially reached out to you?
===================
PM Netanyahu: Jewish communities in Judea Samaria no obstacle to peace
Post on PM Netanyahu's Facebook page 9 September 2016
For video:
https://youtu.be/G8CUFSHB114

I'm sure many of you have heard the claim that Jewish communities in Judea
Samaria, the West Bank, are an obstacle to peace.

I've always been perplexed by this notion.

Because no one would seriously claim that the nearly two million Arabs
living inside Israel – that they're an obstacle to peace. That's because
they aren't. On the contrary.

Israel's diversity shows its openness and readiness for peace. Yet the
Palestinian leadership actually demands a Palestinian state with one
pre-condition: No Jews.

There's a phrase for that: It's called ethnic cleansing.

And this demand is outrageous.

It's even more outrageous that the world doesn't find this outrageous. Some
otherwise enlightened countries even promote this outrage.

Ask yourself this: Would you accept ethnic cleansing in your state? A
territory without Jews, without Hispanics, without blacks?

Since when is bigotry a foundation for peace?

At this moment, Jewish schoolchildren in Judea Samaria are playing in
sandboxes with their friends.

Does their presence make peace impossible?

I don’t think so.

I think what makes peace impossible is intolerance of others. Societies that
respect all people are the ones that pursue peace. Societies that demand
ethnic cleansing don't pursue peace.

I envision a Middle East where young Arabs and young Jews learn together,
work together, live together side by side in peace.

Our region needs more tolerance, not less.

So the next time you hear someone say Jews can't live somewhere, let alone
in their ancestral homeland, take a moment to think of the implications.

Ethnic cleansing for peace is absurd.

It's about time somebody said it.

I just did.