Speech during the plenary debate on the situation in the Middle East.

When Benjamin Netanyahu says that the Palestinians should ‘have the ability to govern themselves but not to harm’ Israel, he is right, except…

Except if he means by that, as there is every reason to fear, that the Palestinians should not have a state.

If it is so, the Palestinians would still strive for making Jerusalem the capital of Palestine next year. Nothing would make them give up that dream, not even 2000 years of waiting, and it would therefore not lead to the peace that needs to be built today.

If, on the other hand, the Israelis knew how to offer the Palestinians negotiations on the terms of peaceful coexistence between their two states, the complete victory they have just won would enable them to base their security on this noble offer.

Because Israel is the winner, it can make this new war the last war. But for that to happen, the Prime Minister must finally convince himself of this reality.