Pres of WJC pressed Netanyahu to defy the will of the people

By Ted Belman. Over a year ago, the President of the World Jewish Congress pressed Netanyhahu to start negotiations without preconditions and to present a plan believing that “such a move would amount to committing political suicide for Netanyahu, but it would send the ball back into the Palestinian court.” I find this very upsetting. The President of the WJC does not respect the elected leaders of the Knesset or even of the opinions of Israelis themselves. He wants to substitute his opinion for that of Israelis and he does so as head of the WJC. You can just imagine how many of the 20 controlling families similarly put pressure on Netanyahu to betray the will of the people.

U.S. billionaire voices support of Netanyahu, following year of cool ties
In full-page Wall Street Journal ad, World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder President Ronald Lauder cites premier’s ‘historic’ Bar-Ilan speech, urges Abbas to resume talks.
By Barak Ravid, HAARETZ

In an apparent attempt to patch things up with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a year or so of shaky ties, U.S. billionaire and President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder published a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, supporting the premier and his position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The ad, titled “It takes two to make peace,” shows a photo of an outstretched hand, accompanied by a quote from Netanyahu’s Bar-Ilan speech, in which the premier voiced his approval of the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state.

“In my visions of peace, there are two peoples living side by side in this small land, with good neighborly relations and mutual respect, each with its flag, anthem and government, with neither one threatening its neighbor’s security and existence,” the quote read.

The ad represents an about-face for Lauder, who criticized Netanyahu’s dealing of the Palestinian issue a year ago, writing in Thursday’s ad that the Palestinians were responsible for the halt in peace talks.

“With his historic speech at Bar-Ilan University broadcast live in Israel and parts of the Arab world, Prime Minister Netanyahu extended his hand,” Lauder said, adding: “Yet three years have now gone by. And the Palestinians still decline the offer to begin direct talks with no preconditions.”

Elsewhere in the ad, Lauder said that Israelis, Palestinians, and anyone seeking peace could not afford another stall in the peace process. Addressing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the World Jewish Congress president said that “both your people and the people of Israel will benefit from an agreement. Both will continue to suffer without one. Accept the offer to talk, President Abbas. It takes two sides to make peace.”

Ties between Netanyahu and Lauder, considered one of the premier’s leading donors, have worsened in the last year, the main reason for which was a piece aired by Channel 10, of which Lauder is a major shareholder, exposing the fact that Netanyahu and his wife enjoyed flights paid by foreign businessmen.

During the affair, nicknamed “Bib-Tours,” Netanyahu tried to use his ties with Lauder to prevent the item’s airing, but Lauder refrained from intervening.

A sign that the two men were growing apart was Netanyahu’s last-minute cancellation of his annual speech at the World Jewish Congress, held in Jerusalem last year.

Only a year ago, with his personal dispute with Netanyahu in the background, Lauder severely criticized Netanyahu’s peace policy, urging him to start negotiations “without preconditions.”

Lauder then called on Netanyahu to present a plan that would restore Israel’s international support and would pass the pressure on to the Palestinians, adding that while such a move would amount to committing political suicide for Netanyahu, but it would send the ball back into the Palestinian court.