More Quotes
“The BDS movement – urging the use of boycott, disinvestment and sanctions against Israel – claims to draw inspiration from the struggle against apartheid.
But the comparison is offensive. Israel is a democracy in which all citizens are equal: whether Jewish, Arab, Christian, Muslim, of Ethiopian heritage, Bedouin and Druze – all have the same votes and rights, which is why Arab Muslim politicians sit in the Knesset and a distinguished Arab lawyer sits on Israel’s Supreme Court.
More than that – the BDS campaign indulges prejudice rather than fighting it. It calls for the shunning of Jewish academics, the boycott of Jewish goods, the de-legitimisation of Jewish commerce. We have seen these all before. And we know where it takes us.” (Justice Minister Michael Gove’s speech to the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Anti-Semitism Conference, 15/03/2016)
“When [Abbas] closed the door in front of both Secretary Kerry in February 2014 and President Obama in March 2014, he wasn’t blamed. Why? He’s too weak to be accountable … The most important value that is missing in the Middle East is accountability. When [Abbas] closed the door in front of President Obama, he should have been blamed. He should be accountable.” (Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon speaking at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, 14/03/2016)
“Our policy regarding the Gaza Strip is clear. Israel will not accept rocket fire of any kind from the strip at its territory. The IDF will respond to any such provocation. Israel holds Hamas responsible for all firing carried out from the Gaza Strip toward Israel; Hamas must prevent such firing.” (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking at a cabinet meeting 13/03/2016)
“To my regret there are some in the West who are misled by the honeyed words from part of the Iranian leadership while the other part continues to procure equipment and weaponry, to arm terrorist groups.” (Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon speaking to Israel Radio, 10/03/2016)
“Specific sectors in Israel – such as fintech, cyber security, and biomed – are making great steps toward global growth by forging partnerships with their respective peers in Britain.” (Haim Shani, Chairman of the UK Israel Tech Hub and former Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Finance, speaking about a new survey of the Israeli tech industry, 09/03/2016)
“Tragic attack in Jaffa today, taking the life of an American. There is no justification for such acts of terror.” (US Vice President Joe Biden, via Twitter, 08/03/2016)