Falcon29
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Lapid: 'Should Israel Annex A Single Settlement, We'll Topple Gov't' - JP Updates | JP Updates
Should Israel unilaterally annex as much as a single settlement in the Palestinian territories, Yesh Atid will quit the coalition government and effectively topple it, Israel’s Finance Minister Yair Lapid said Sunday.
Speaking at the annual Herzliya Conference, Lapid presented a detailed plan that would essentially resume negotiations with the Palestinians and move forward towards a two state solution.
“The settlements cost us dearly,” Lapid said. “They adversely affect the growth, the GNP, our economic relations with the world. Besides the billions we are losing by building more unnecessary infrastructure, we lose many more billions in economic activity, millions which we could use to lower taxes, increase security and improve the civil services.
“The money that gets buried somewhere between Itamar and Yitzhar could help us reduce the size of classes in our schools, establish better health services, close social gaps and invest in the Iron Dome missile defense system and in the military,” he said.
Lapid’s plan would require an Israeli withdrawal from parts of the West Bank where there are no settlements, though Israel’s military would retain the ability to act anywhere in the West Bank. At the same time, Israel would institute a freeze on construction outside the large settlement blocs.
In the second stage, he said, Israel would “move into the settlement blocks while evacuating the isolated settlements.”
“During this stage there will be direct negotiations [with the Palestinians] with the mediation of the United States, in Ramallah and Jerusalem, on final borders,” he said.
“The final map will be the result of negotiations,” Lapid said. “The maps of the first two stages are a clear Israeli interest, and there’s no reason for us not to start drawing them now. As soon as they are presented, we can bring the moderate Arab states into the agreement and turn it into a regional one.”
Lapid blasted his “brother” and coalition partner Economy Minister Naftali Bennett for his proposal to annex West Bank settlement blocs to Israel as a result of the peace talks failure.
“Extreme right-wing forces are pushing us toward the delusional idea of annexation, which will lead us to the disaster called a binational state,” he said. “I don’t know if this is a public relations exercise or a true intention, but we will not allow this to happen. If there is an attempt to annex even one settlement unilaterally, Yesh Atid will not only bolt the government, it will bring it down.”
The Finance Minister also blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the crisis in relations with the United States over the collapse of the peace process.
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Even Israeli leftists believe a binational state is unacceptable for those who wouldn't believe me. @KingMamba
............
This guy gives me some hope though. Unfortunately, right wingers dominate the Israeli government and he won't be able to have an impact on this.
I agree, Netanyahu should present some kind of borders since Israel assumes authority in the occupied West Bank.
Should Israel unilaterally annex as much as a single settlement in the Palestinian territories, Yesh Atid will quit the coalition government and effectively topple it, Israel’s Finance Minister Yair Lapid said Sunday.
Speaking at the annual Herzliya Conference, Lapid presented a detailed plan that would essentially resume negotiations with the Palestinians and move forward towards a two state solution.
“The settlements cost us dearly,” Lapid said. “They adversely affect the growth, the GNP, our economic relations with the world. Besides the billions we are losing by building more unnecessary infrastructure, we lose many more billions in economic activity, millions which we could use to lower taxes, increase security and improve the civil services.
“The money that gets buried somewhere between Itamar and Yitzhar could help us reduce the size of classes in our schools, establish better health services, close social gaps and invest in the Iron Dome missile defense system and in the military,” he said.
Lapid’s plan would require an Israeli withdrawal from parts of the West Bank where there are no settlements, though Israel’s military would retain the ability to act anywhere in the West Bank. At the same time, Israel would institute a freeze on construction outside the large settlement blocs.
In the second stage, he said, Israel would “move into the settlement blocks while evacuating the isolated settlements.”
“During this stage there will be direct negotiations [with the Palestinians] with the mediation of the United States, in Ramallah and Jerusalem, on final borders,” he said.
“The final map will be the result of negotiations,” Lapid said. “The maps of the first two stages are a clear Israeli interest, and there’s no reason for us not to start drawing them now. As soon as they are presented, we can bring the moderate Arab states into the agreement and turn it into a regional one.”
Lapid blasted his “brother” and coalition partner Economy Minister Naftali Bennett for his proposal to annex West Bank settlement blocs to Israel as a result of the peace talks failure.
“Extreme right-wing forces are pushing us toward the delusional idea of annexation, which will lead us to the disaster called a binational state,” he said. “I don’t know if this is a public relations exercise or a true intention, but we will not allow this to happen. If there is an attempt to annex even one settlement unilaterally, Yesh Atid will not only bolt the government, it will bring it down.”
The Finance Minister also blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the crisis in relations with the United States over the collapse of the peace process.
..................................
Even Israeli leftists believe a binational state is unacceptable for those who wouldn't believe me. @KingMamba
............
This guy gives me some hope though. Unfortunately, right wingers dominate the Israeli government and he won't be able to have an impact on this.
I agree, Netanyahu should present some kind of borders since Israel assumes authority in the occupied West Bank.
