Israeli Business Leaders Warn Netanyahu on Peace

Some of the country’s top businessmen met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month to express concern that the stalled peace process with the Palestinians would ultimately harm and even endanger the Israeli economy.

The businessmen told Netanyahu they are worried by the signals they are getting from the international business community.

“We come from the field, and we’re feeling the pressure,” one said. “If we don’t make progress toward a two-state solution, there will be negative developments for the Israeli economy. We’re already noticing initial signs of this. The future of the Israeli economy will be in danger.”

One businessman who attended the meeting told Haaretz that the lack of progress toward a two-state solution could send Israel down a slippery slope toward a binational state that would be either not Jewish or not democratic.

“The world will not accept this,” he said. “Foreign investments will not come to such a state. No one will buy goods from such a state.”

During the 90-minute meeting, the businessmen did not preach to Netanyahu, criticize him or try to pressure him, one participant said. He added that Netanyahu and International Relations Minister Yuval Steinitz, who attended as well, did not argue with them, and in fact agreed with most of what was said.

For more, go to Haaretz