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Lapid calls for regional peace deal, separation from Palestinians
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid yesterday outlined his diplomatic vision for Israel, calling for a decisive separation from the Palestinians and a subsequent comprehensive regional peace agreement.
Speaking at an event for foreign correspondents, Lapid said, “The details may be complex, but the basic idea is simple – Israel doesn’t want to absorb 3.5 million Palestinians. It is time to separate and guarantee our future as a Jewish and democratic state.” Criticising existing inaction, Lapid explained “this passive approach to our destiny is misguided and dangerous. We need an approach based on pragmatism and genuine security for both sides. The answer is separation. As decisively as possible.”
Lapid said that following such a move, security cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) “must continue even after the separation.” He explained that it would also be in the best interests of the PA as “If not for such coordination, Hamas will rise to power in the West Bank the same way it did in Gaza.”
At the same time, Lapid argued that a peace deal with the Palestinians “will only come about through an agreement — terrorism and international pressure will not move us towards such an agreement.” Although he acknowledged that the idea of unilateral separation would likely be opposed by the Palestinians, Lapid said that an agreement could be reached in the context of “full and normal relations — diplomatic and economic — with the entire Arab world.”
Last week, Zionist Union head Isaac Herzog also called for separation “from as many Palestinians as possible, as quickly as possible,” consolidating around the West Bank settlement blocs which most assume will remain part of Israel under any future peace deal.
Yesterday, Lapid also warned that under current circumstances “the next war in northern or southern Israel is only a matter of time.” He said that the next conflict would have its roots in “Iranian backing” for Hamas and Hezbollah, as a result of “some of the sanctions relief” from which Tehran is benefitting.