Sit right back down. Class is not over. Just because you graduated years ago does not mean you can quit learning. When learning comes to an end only with some pretentious degree, perhaps we have only pretended to be learning. Flame on, learn on.
Today's lesson is centered on one Benjamin Netanyahu. With what is going on in Israel and Gaza is becomes very crucial for us to understand this man. We are going to examine his quotes, for the quotes of a person reveal much about who they are. They are insights into the soul.
But first, let us present some very, very interesting material on this man. Good background material, aye.
In his office in Jerusalem, there's an ancient seal, a signet ring of a Jewish official from the time of the Bible. Found right next to the Western Wall, it dates back 2,700 years, even to the time of King Hezekiah. The name of the Jewish official inscribed on the ring in Hebrew? Netanyahu.
Now, to be fair, we must point out that the family name was changed from Mileikowsky to Netanyahu by Benjamin's father. That's also an interesting tidbit for you, in and of itself.
Which reminds me, Netanyahu once changed his own name. He went by Ben Nitai there for a while, to make it easier for Americans to pronounce his name.
Yes, he once lived here in America. Did you not know that? Perhaps he was even a U.S. citizen. He even graduated from an American high school. And, he graduated from an American university, no less than the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He once worked in America as an economics consultant for Boston Consulting Group.
Moving back to Israel, he founded an anti-terror institute, the Yonatan Netanyahu Anti-Terror Institute.
He once was a member of the Sayeret Matkal, an elite special forces unit.
His brother was killed while in that unit, killed while on a rescue mission that freed more than 100 Israeli hostages.
He was once Israel's ambassador to the United Nations.
He speaks four languages, Hebrew, English, French and Spanish.
He was the first prime minister elected directly by popular vote.
He is the longest-serving prime minister in Israel's history.
Now, every human has his flaws, and so do many of the greatest leaders. Netanyahu's later life has been marked by charges of corruption, fraud, breach of trust, and bribes. He has been accused of passing laws to protect him from such charges and shield him from investigations. Guilty? Innocent? I don't know; I have been inclined to believe some of the accusations.
This, too, is interesting: In 2015, he was roundly criticized for suggesting that the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, a Palestinian Arab nationalist named Haj Amin al-Husseini, gave Hitler the idea for the holocaust. Such a claim prompted some to call that claim by Netanyahu to be a form of Holocaust denial.
And now for the quotes:
"The only peace that can endure is a peace that can be defended." -- Benjamin Netanyahu
"Peace is purchased from strength. It's not purchased from weakness or unilateral retreats." -- Benjamin Netanyahu
"Saving lives is more important than preserving the quality of life. Quality of life is always amenable to improvement. Death is permanent." -- Benjamin Netanyahu
I don't want a peace process; I want a peace result." -- Benjamin Netanyahu
"The idea of imposing peace from outside doesn't work." -- Benjamin Netanyahu
"History has shown us time and again that what is right is not what is popular." -- Benjamin Netanyahu
"If diplomacy has any chance to work, it must be coupled with a credible military threat." -- Benjamin Netanyahu
"We are using missile defense to protect our civilians, and they're using their civilians to protect their missiles." -- Benjamin Netanyahu
"The Nazis believed in a master race. The militant Islamists believe in a master faith." -- Benjamin Netanyahu
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