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May 17, 2020, 12:12 PMlatest revision May 17, 2020, 01:32 PM
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Alex Kolomoisky/FLASH 90/PRESS POOLPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu walks in the Israeli Parliament after presenting the 35th government of Israel to the Knesset, May 17, 202
Netanyahu made the remarks just before Israel’s new 35th government was set to be sworn-in
Now is the time to finally apply sovereignty over Jewish settlements in the West Bank, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proclaimed Sunday just before Israel’s 35th government was set to be sworn in.
“The time has come to write a new and glorious chapter in the annals of Zionism,” the premier boasted, insisting that annexation “would not detract from peace, on the contrary, bring us closer to it.”
Netanyahu said that Israel’s settlements are a reality on the ground that can’t be ignored and would be a part of Israel either now or in the future, whatever the scenario.
“The time has come for our Palestinian neighbors and all the Knesset parties to recognize this,” he added ignoring protests from members of the Joint List, a political alliance made up of four smaller Arab-majority parties.
During his remarks, Netanyahu also referred to developments occurring in the International Criminal Court, which threatens Israel with prosecution for war crimes against the Palestinians.
“It is scandalous to accuse IDF soldiers of such crimes, just as it is scandalous to want to attack Israel for… wanting to build schools in [the Jewish settlement of] Gilo or to want to return to [the biblical sites of] Shilo, Beit El or Hebron,” Netanyahu said.
“What a distortion of the truth! The truth is that these places saw the birth of the Jewish nation,” he added.
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