TEL AVIV, Israel, July 1 (ANI) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel should begin phasing out U.S. financial assistance, arguing that the country’s economic strength enables it to finance its own needs.
“I want to stop American aid. It’s like welfare; I don’t want it,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel’s economy has grown to a point where U.S. assistance represents only a small fraction of its gross domestic product.
“Our economy is no longer a small economy… we can finance ourselves with this fraction of a per cent of our GDP that we receive from the United States. I want this process to start this year,” he said.
Netanyahu also reiterated his government’s opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people. No Palestinian state will be established here,” he said.
Addressing national security, the prime minister said Israel would continue to take a proactive military approach against perceived threats.
“We will pursue an active security policy—we won’t sit back and wait behind fences,” he said.
Asked about the possibility of re-establishing Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu declined to elaborate.
“As for rebuilding settlements in Gaza, you have to be ready to act first and talk afterwards. Sometimes it’s better to separate the two. That’s why I’m not going to add anything further on that subject,” he said.
He added that effective statecraft often requires discretion in communicating government policy.
“You have to understand that the art of statecraft isn’t limited to domestic politics. I don’t have to declare everything to the whole world at every moment,” Netanyahu said.
Commenting on Iran, the prime minister said Israel would continue to act against what it considers threats to its security.
“We entered Iran twice to save ourselves from destruction. There will be a third time if necessary,” he said.
Netanyahu also said Israeli forces would maintain their presence in parts of southern Lebanon as long as security threats persist.
“We didn’t leave Lebanon. We have effectively established this security belt—about 10 kilometres inside Lebanon—with the agreement of the Lebanese government. And, of course, Hezbollah is outraged. The same is true of Iran,” he said.
During a visit to Israeli troops in the country’s northern sector, Netanyahu reiterated that Israeli forces would remain in southern Lebanon until the threat from Hezbollah is eliminated.
“Our position is clear: we will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat has disappeared. And as long as Hezbollah, armed, is here and threatening us, we will stay here,” he said.
His remarks come after the signing of a Washington-brokered framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon aimed at promoting long-term stability and facilitating the demilitarization of Hezbollah.
Under the terms of the agreement, any future withdrawal of Israeli troops is contingent upon the Lebanese government establishing designated operational sectors in which the Lebanese Armed Forces assume responsibility for security.
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