Judea
Newcomer
- Oct 8, 2023
- 103
נשיא מדינת ישראל
Presidential Statement
On the Palestinian Matter and in Response to Thailand's Hostile Actions
For Public Release
Citizens of Israel, and supporters of popular government worldwide,
Today I issue this statement in support of and elaboration to recent legislation, as well as a response to the slander released by a government flaunting its status as a world power. While I would have preferred to leave the latter part of this as private, the actions of the Republic of Thailand have left me no choice but to respond. As well as authorize the public release of the transcripts of the meeting between Minister Levy and the Thai Ambassador.
First, regarding the matter of the Palestinian territories.
The partition of Israel and Palestine was always intended to be a temporary status, and the borders were defined without regard for the people that lived in the region as well as existing tribal and other connections. Through several wars these borders have changed but the final result is still the same. One state (Israel) surrounded by hostile forces on both sides and another state (Palestine) that can only be called a rump state and is dependent on Israel for all its infrastructure and services.
A Palestinian in the Palestinian territories lives a decade shorter than a citizen of Israel, they have no access to proper healthcare, schooling, or social services. A Palestinian baby is five times as likely to die as one born in Israel. The Palestinian Authority is unable to exercise full control over all the territories, those territories it cannot control are dominated by a terrorist group and even within the areas under its control the PA must struggle with militias and factions within it. Rather than to providing healthcare and other essential services, foreign aid is used to buy weapons.
A Palestinian in the State of Israel is a full and equal citizen, they have the ability to pray to whichever god they want, their places of worship are protected, they are allowed to vote and are guaranteed the same civil rights as any other citizen. We do not execute people for being gay. We do not execute people for having a different gender identity. We do not force our women to wear clothing they do not want nor force them to be accompanied by a man while outside the home. A Palestinian under Israeli governance is Israeli, and their life is significantly better than a Palestinian in a poor excuse for a sovereign state.
This is the status quo that is supposed to bring stability, this is a status quo that through armed conflicts has caused thousands of deaths, and when considering the lack of healthcare, infant mortality, lack of food, and so many other factors has likely killed millions. The blood of these people is on the hands of those that want this situation to persist.
Israel does not seek war, Israel does not seek to expand into territories we do not belong. Israel seeks to be a whole nation, a nation that is the home of the Jews, but also the home of the Palestinians, the Druze, the Circassians, the Armenians, and so many other people that call this country their home.
Yes, the Reunification Law allows military action, but only as a measure of last resort and only to defeat those forces the world considers terrorists. With it come all the services and rights for those Palestinians living inside the territories as those outside the territories. Even the right to secede, but I doubt they will use that once they have experienced the joys of living in a free and modern country that respects their values and provides them with services we all consider essential.
Now for the second part of this statement, the Republic of Thailand.
While I would have liked to leave diplomatic discussions between representatives private, their recent actions have left me no choice but to respond. Recently the ambassador of Thailand to Israel requested to meet with a representative of my government. Minister Levy, who was available at the time, received the Thai delegation and discussed relations. While things seemed to be going positive initially, the conversation quickly turned sour when the Palestinian matter was brought up. At that stage the Thai ambassador refused to listen to reason and decided to only impose their will on a state they thought they could bully into submission. That was their mistake, Israel has time and time again been forced to fight for its right to exist. When Minister Levy refused to give in, the Thai ambassador threw a hissy fit.
Thailand has decided to call us the destabilizing force in the Middle East, displaying their complete ignorance of the dynamics in the region, and escalating matters beyond reason when Israel's only concrete action has been to improve the border security presence in anticipation of a possible Palestinian response. The Thai government saw it fit to withdraw their ambassador, evacuate all their citizens, end all economic activity and even pressure our international friends. If anyone is destabilizing it seems to be the Republic of Thailand, and its schizophrenic leadership. To them I say the following. We will not be bullied into submission. You may keep your money, we do not want it. You may keep your diplomats, we do not want them. You may keep your citizens and your investments, we do not want them. The State of Israel is a sovereign and democratic republic, this government only answers to its people and not a 'world power' half the world away. Because Israel is a responsible international actor we will not retaliate with a copy of your measures. Our ambassador will remain in place, our citizens will not be evacuated and we will not tell our free businesses who they can and cannot trade with.
As for Palestine, as we have said time and time again. Military action is only the final measure we will take, there are many steps before that and we do welcome responsible international actors to encourage Palestine to agree to a peaceful transition to a single state that allows all its people to live in freedom and peace.
