Izraeli PM Netanyahu’s Remarks at the Start of the Weekly Cabinet Meeting
BreuerPress
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday, 23 February 2014):
„Two years ago I said that we would submit a law that would increase equality in sharing the burden, without setting public against public. I think that this process is now being carried out, and we must see to it that it is carried out while maintaining national unity. To the same extent, I add that in the future we would like to see more parts of Israeli society bearing the burden.
Today, the Cabinet will be briefed by Israel National Cyber Bureau head Dr. Eviatar Matania. We established the INCB in order to assist turning Israel into a major cyber power. When I say a major cyber power I mean cyber defense, and indeed this capability is being built, inter alia, by the work being coordinated by the INCB. We want to facilitate better defense for all strata of the country, which are becoming increasingly digitized. The INCB will soon move to Be’er Sheva as part of the national cyber park (www.pmo.gov.il/English/MediaCenter/Events/Pages/eventdefence270114.aspx). I also see this as spurring strong economic development, especially since there is considerable global interest in our abilities, and this can serve not only the defense component, but that of economic growth as well.
Last Thursday I visited one of these defense components, the ISA branch that deals with foiling cyber attacks. I was impressed by the work that I saw being carried out by young people that are doing holy work on behalf of the State of Israel, and I can even say at personal sacrifice. They are ready to dedicate precious, significant years to defending the country and I commend them and the ISA for this important work. We will yet need greater investment in this area both in order to defend ourselves and in order to realize the very great economic potential in this area.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will arrive in Israel tomorrow. She comes as a friend of Israel with a considerable entourage. We will talk with them in order to deepen bilateral cooperation. Of course, I will discuss with her two diplomatic issues of the highest order. Regarding our negotiations with the Palestinians, I will make it clear that the infrastructure of peace between us and the Palestinians will be based on the mutual recognition of two national states, i.e. the necessity of Palestinian recognition of the Jewish state, the national state of the Jewish People.
I will also discuss with her about the nuclear talks. Since Germany is part of the P5+1, I view with concern that fact that Iran believes that it will realize its plan to be a nuclear threshold state, with an enrichment capacity that it thinks cannot be touched, with the ability to develop both nuclear weapons and inter-continental missiles, which it is continuing to work on unhindered. This combination of enrichment, weapons and launch capabilities, says that Iran is, in effect, receiving everything and giving almost nothing. This is the current situation. The permanent agreement cannot render this situation permanent. It must dismantle the Iranian ability to either produce or launch nuclear weapons, and this has yet to be achieved, and without the insistence of the major powers it will not be achieved. I hope that Germany and the other P5+1 countries will insist on the genuine demands to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear threshold state.”
President Peres met with football legend, Johann Cruyff, and thanked him for his contribution to peace
President Shimon Peres, today (Sunday, 23 February 2014), at his residence in Jerusalem, met with football legend Johann Cruyff. President Peres welcomed him and said, „People remember very well that not only were you an outstanding football player but that you gave football a social content, you made it an educational process. You are a role model. Football is one of the great ways to make peace among people. In football there is no discrimination, we don’t look at the color of the legs, we look at their speed. When a player like you arrives in our country the eyes of the children light up; Jewish, Arab or Muslim. There is a sense of belonging to a world where you compete to make everyone stronger and you respect the basic social laws.”
President Peres thanked Johann Cruyff for the court his foundation built in Jaffa and said, „I know you contributed to a court in Jaffa and we appreciate it very much, thank you for coming, thank you for what you do and please continue to do so. You are a welcome guest here and a fresh, strong call to live in peace.”
Cruyff thanked President Peres for the welcome and said, „We created some playgrounds for the children to play together, we think that’s why football or any sport is so important, the rules are the same for everybody, people can enjoy, play well and be outstanding. We have 190 Cruyff courts in 22 countries and it’s not just playing a game, it’s an attempt to understand each other and speak one language. If there is a problem then talking is how you survive, that’s why we’re happy to do these things with all people; we’ve got fields in Malaysia, Japan, United States, Mexico and elsewhere. If you go there, everyone is laughing and that’s important for the youth. I’m happy that in September we’re creating a new field here and its fantastic achievement. We hope we can continue to make people happy and get them together.”
President Peres added, „Children are born innocent, smartphones enable them to develop their own language. They don’t have to repeat the old prejudices. Democracy today is not only free expression but self-expression and within that sport enables children to to escape poverty and be outstanding. Football for them is a hope, not just a game.”
