Editing Benjamin Netanyahu (section)

==== Bar-Ilan speech ====
In June 2009, Netanyahu delivered an address<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/full-text-of-netanyahu-s-foreign-policy-speech-at-bar-ilan-1.277922|title=Full text of Binyamin Netanyahu's Bar Ilan speech|date=15 June 2009|work=[[Haaretz]] |access-date=15 June 2009}}</ref> at [[Bar-Ilan University]], known as the "Bar-Ilan speech", at [[Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies]], that was broadcast live in Israel and across parts of the [[Arab world]], on the [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process]]. He endorsed for the first time the notion of a [[Palestinian state]] alongside Israel.<ref name=lays /> Netanyahu's speech could be viewed in part as a response to Obama's [[A New Beginning (speech)|4 June speech at Cairo]]. ''Yedioth Ahronoth'' claimed Obama's words had "resonated through Jerusalem's corridors".<ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3726367,00.html|title=Ministers split over Obama's Cairo speech|date=4 June 2009|access-date=19 June 2009}}</ref>

As part of his proposal, Netanyahu demanded full demilitarization of the proposed state, with no army, rockets, missiles, or control of its airspace, and said Jerusalem would be [[Positions on Jerusalem|undivided Israeli territory]]. He stated that the Palestinians should recognize Israel as the Jewish national state with an undivided Jerusalem. He rejected a [[Palestinian right of return|right of return]] for Palestinian refugees, saying, "any demand for resettling Palestinian refugees within Israel undermines Israel's continued existence as the state of the Jewish people." He stated that a complete stop to [[Israeli settlement|settlement building]] in the [[West Bank]], as required by the 2003 [[road map for peace]], was impossible and the expansions would be limited based on the "natural growth" of the population, including immigration, with no new territories taken. Nevertheless, Netanyahu affirmed that he accepted the road map.<ref>{{cite news |title=Netanyahu's speech: Yes to road map, no to settlement freeze |first1=Barak |last1=Ravid |first2=Aluf |last2=Benn |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/netanyahu-s-speech-yes-to-road-map-no-to-settlement-freeze-1.277711 |newspaper=Haaretz |date=11 June 2009 |access-date=16 March 2013}}</ref> He did not discuss whether or not the settlements should be part of Israel after peace negotiations, simply stating that the "question will be discussed".<ref name=lays>{{cite news |title=Netanyahu wants demilitarized PA state |first=Herb |last=Keinon |author-link=Herb Keinon |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=145486 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date=14 June 2009 |access-date=6 March 2013}}</ref>

In a response to Obama's statements in his Cairo speech, Netanyahu remarked, "there are those who say that if the Holocaust had not occurred, the State of Israel would never have been established. But I say that if the State of Israel would have been established earlier, the Holocaust would not have occurred." He said, "this is the homeland of the Jewish people, this is where our identity was forged." He stated that he would be willing to meet with any "Arab leader" for negotiations without preconditions, specifically mentioning [[Syria]], Saudi Arabia, and [[Lebanon]].<ref name=lays /> The address represented a new position for Netanyahu's government on the peace process.<ref name=huff />

Right-wing members of Netanyahu's governing coalition criticized his remarks for the creation of a Palestinian State, believing all of the land should come under Israeli sovereignty. [[Likud]] [[Knesset|MK]] [[Danny Danon]] said Netanyahu went "against the Likud platform",<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3731827,00.html |title=Netanyahu defends speech to party hardliners|last=Sofer|first=Roni|date=15 June 2009|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|access-date=17 September 2009}}</ref> while [[Knesset|MK]] [[Uri Orbach]] of [[Habayit Hayehudi]] said it had "dangerous implications".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3731290,00.html|title=Likud members say PM gave in to US pressure|date=14 June 2009 |work=[[Ynet]]|access-date=17 September 2009}}</ref> Opposition party [[Kadima]] leader [[Tzipi Livni]] remarked that she thinks Netanyahu does not really believe in the [[two-state solution]] at all; she thought he only said what he did as a feigned response to international pressure.<ref name=Livni>{{cite news |title=Livni: Netanyahu doesn't believe in two-state solution |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/livni-netanyahu-doesn-t-believe-in-two-state-solution-1.279472 |newspaper=Haaretz |date=7 July 2009 |access-date=16 March 2013}}</ref> [[Peace Now]] criticized the speech, stating it did not address the Palestinians as equal partners in the peace process. The Secretary General of Peace Now, said, "It's a rerun of Netanyahu from his first term".<ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[Peace Now]] |title=Peace Now Response to Bibi Netanyahu's Speech |url=http://www.fmep.org/analysis/analysis/peace-now-response-to-bibi-netanyahus-speech |date=15 June 2009 |access-date=8 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923183725/http://www.fmep.org/analysis/analysis/peace-now-response-to-bibi-netanyahus-speech |archive-date=23 September 2013 }}</ref>

On 9 August 2009, speaking at the opening of a government meeting, Netanyahu repeated his claims from the Palestinians: "We want an agreement with two factors, the first of which is the recognition of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people and (the second of which is) a security settlement".<ref name=sofer />

Netanyahu's speech provoked mixed reaction from the international community.<ref name="rfi">{{cite news|url=http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/114/article_4023.asp|title=Netanyahu speech provokes mix of international reactions|date=15 June 2009|publisher=[[Radio France]]|access-date=16 September 2009|archive-date=19 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619043335/http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/114/article_4023.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Palestinian National Authority]] rejected the conditions on a Palestinian State. [[Saeb Erekat]] said, "Netanyahu's speech closed the door to permanent status negotiations". [[Hamas]] spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said it reflected a "racist and extremist ideology"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3731300,00.html|title=Hamas slams Netanyahu's 'racist, extremist' ideology |date=14 June 2009|work=[[Ynet]]|access-date=11 August 2009}}</ref> and called on Arab nations to "form stronger opposition".<ref name=huff>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/14/netanyahu-peace-speech-is_n_215337.html|title=Netanyahu Peace Speech: Israeli Prime Minister Appeals To Arab Leaders For Peace|date=14 June 2009 |first=Josef |last=Federman |work=The Huffington Post |access-date=14 June 2009}}</ref> [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad]] labeled it "misleading" and demanded stronger opposition to Israel from Arab nations.<ref name=xin>{{cite news |publisher=Xinhua News Agency|title=Netanyahu's speech vexes Arabs|author1=Muhammad Yamany|author2=Chen Gongzheng |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/16/content_11548122.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616232616/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/16/content_11548122.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 June 2009|date=15 June 2009|access-date=16 June 2009}}</ref> According to ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'', some leaders advocated a third intifada in response to the speech.<ref name=lays />

The [[Arab League]] dismissed it, declaring that "Arabs would not make concessions regarding issues of Jerusalem and refugees" and that "we know his history and style of evasion", adding that the Arab League would not recognize Israel as a Jewish state.<ref name=xin /> Referring to Netanyahu's demand that Palestinians recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people, Egypt's president [[Hosni Mubarak]] remarked, "You won't find anyone to answer that call in Egypt, or in any other place." Issuing a less blunt response, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the speech was "not complete" and it hoped for another, "different Israeli proposal...built on the commitment to the two-state solution".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/15/palestinians-condemn-neta_n_215527.html|title=Palestinians Condemn Netanyahu Speech |format=video|date=15 June 2009 |first=Stewart |last=Whatley |work=The Huffington Post |access-date=15 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/syria-netanyahu-s-policy-has-everything-but-peace-1.278102 |title=Syria: Netanyahu's policy has everything but peace |work=Haaretz |date=15 June 2009 |access-date=26 May 2011 }}</ref> [[Media of Syria|Syrian state media]] condemned the speech and wrote "Netanyahu has confirmed that he rejects the Arab peace initiative for peace along with all the initiatives and resolutions of the Security Council to relative peace."<ref name=rfi /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=145545|title=PM calls Mubarak to clarify stance|date=16 June 2009|work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|access-date=17 June 2012}}</ref>

Lebanese President [[Michel Suleiman]] said "Arab leaders should be more united and preserve the spirit of resistance to face the Israeli stands regarding the peace process and the Palestinian refugee issue." He called on the international community to exert more pressure on Israel to accept the Arab Peace Initiative, as he said "Israel still has a will of military confrontation which can be proved in its offensives on Lebanon and the Gaza Strip."<ref name=xin /> Jordanian officials said "The ideas presented by Netanyahu do not live up to what was agreed on by the international community as a starting point for achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region."<ref name=xin /> Former Iranian president [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] referred to the speech as "bad news".<ref name=rfi />

The [[Czech Republic]] praised Netanyahu's address. "...this is a step in the right direction. The acceptance of a Palestinian state was present there", said Foreign Minister [[Jan Kohout]], whose country held the EU's presidency at the time.<ref name="eu1"/> President Obama's [[press secretary]], [[Robert Gibbs]], said the speech was an "important step forward".<ref name=xin /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/14/white-house-reacts-to-netanyahus-speech/|title=White House reacts to Netanyahu's speech|date=14 June 2009|publisher=CNN|access-date=16 September 2009|archive-date=28 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828090154/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/14/white-house-reacts-to-netanyahus-speech/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Obama stated that "this solution can and must ensure both Israel's security and the Palestinians' legitimate aspirations for a viable state".<ref name=rfi /> Swedish Foreign Minister [[Carl Bildt]] stated that "the fact that he uttered the word state is a small step forward". He added that "whether what he mentioned can be defined as a state is a subject of some debate".<ref name=rfi /><ref name="eu1">{{cite news |title=EU gives cautious welcome to Netanyahu speech |first=Mark |last=John |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-40333120090615 |work=Reuters |date=15 June 2009 |access-date=16 March 2013 |archive-date=2 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102062917/http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-40333120090615 |url-status=dead }}</ref> France praised the speech but called on Israel to cease building settlements in the West Bank. French Foreign Minister [[Bernard Kouchner]] stated, "I can only welcome the prospect of a Palestinian state outlined by the Israeli prime minister."<ref name=rfi /><ref name=eu1 /> The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Foreign Ministry of Russia]] called the speech "a sign of readiness for dialogue" but said "it does not open up the road to resolving the Israeli–Palestinian problem. The conditions on the Palestinians would be unacceptable."<ref name=rfi />