2022. 9. 23. CBN News
JERUSALEM, Israel – For the first time in more than a decade, an Israeli prime minister has re-committed to a two-state solution with the Palestinians. But his comments didn’t sit well with many Israelis. Lapid told the UN General assembly that Israel’s economic and military strength enables it to strive for peace with the Arab world, including the Palestinians. “An agreement with the Palestinians, based on the two states for two peoples, is the right thing for Israel’s security, for Israel’s economy and for the future of our children,” he said.
New Israeli Prime Minister Resurrects Two-State Solution From UN Podium
- Last time Palestinian state was spoken of from podium was 2016
- Lapid, however, faces reelection in November against Netanyahu
2022년 9월 22일
Yair Lapid called for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, the first Israeli leader to do so at the United Nations General Assembly in six years.
“An agreement with the Palestinians, based on two states for two peoples, is the right thing for Israel’s security, for Israel’s economy and for the future of our children,” he said, adding that the only condition Israel had was for a future Palestinian state to be “a peaceful one.”
Israel’s Lapid Favors Two-State Solution With PalestinePlay
The comments of Lapid, who has been prime minister for just over two months, mark a significant departure from his predecessor and coalition partner, Naftali Bennett, who did not mention the Palestinians once during his UN speech last year.
In fact, no Israeli prime minister has voiced their support for a two-state solution to the decades-old conflict at the UN General Assembly since former Benjamin Netanyahu in 2016.
The change in tone from an Israeli leader on the Israel-Palestine conflict echoes the change in the US, where President Joe Biden has voiced his support for a two-state solution, in stark contrast to his predecessor, Donald Trump.
Here is a timeline of the evolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict in Israeli speeches to the UN General Assembly, from 2016 to 2021.
| RECENT ISRAELI UN SPEECHES |
|---|
| 2016 Netanyahu: “I remain committed to a vision of peace based on two States, for two peoples.2017: Netanyahu: “Israel is committed to achieving peace with all of our Arab neighbors, including the Palestinians.”2018: Netanyahu: “I hope the day will soon arrive when Israel will be able to expand peace, a formal peace, beyond Egypt and Jordan to other Arab neighbors, including the Palestinians.”2019: Foreign Minister Israel Katz: “Israel wants peace with all its neighbors…We call on the Palestinians to return to direct negotiations without any preconditions.”2020: Netanyahu: “[US President Trump] put forward a realistic peace plan that recognizes Israel’s rights, addresses Israel’s security needs and provides the Palestinians with a dignified, realistic path forward if they make peace with Israel.”2021: Bennett: No mention made of the Palestinians |
Lapid is running for reelection against Netanyahu in national elections in November. Polls suggest Netanyahu’s Likud party will pick up the most seats, just short of the numbers needed to form a coalition government.