haaretz | Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that he was under
attack by "anonymous" critics simply because he was defending Israel and
its national security interests, but stressed that he "cherished"
Israel's alliance with the United States despite the arguments.
Speaking to Knesset hours after a senior U.S. official was quoted calling him a "chickenshit prime minister,"
Netanyahu told Knesset: "When there are pressures on Israel to concede
its security, the easiest thing to do is to concede. You get a round of
applause, ceremonies on grassy knolls, and then come the missiles and
the tunnels."
"I am not prepared to make concessions that will endanger our state,"
Netanyahu said. "Understand, our national interests, topped by security
and the unity of Jerusalem, are not what top the interests of those
anonymous forces attacking us, and me personally. I am under attack
simply because I am defending the State of Israel. If I didn't stand
firm on our national interests, I would not be under attack."
"I respect and cherish the deep connection with the United States,"
Netanyahu said. "Since the establishment of the state, we’ve had our
arguments and then some. We have seen time after time, year and year,
support rising among the American public. The strategic alliance between
the stances is continuing and will continue."
