LAPID SLAMMED BY RIVALS AND SOME ALLIES OVER TWO-STATE SOLUTION’ SPEECH AT UNGA

Sat 24 September 2022:

A day after Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid advocated for a “two-state solution” to the Israel-Palestine conflict during his speech to the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at UN headquarters in New York.

However, referring to the ultra-conservatives and Jewish religious lawmakers, current opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu said that they will never permit Lapid to carry out his plans.

“Today he (Lapid) wants to give the Palestinians a terrorist state in the heart of Israel and that state is going to threaten us. But let me tell you this Mr. Lapid: My partners and I will not let you,” said Netanyahu.

Lapid not only encountered opposition in his own neighborhood, but even the Palestinians did not appear overly enthusiastic about his plan. Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas allegedly claimed that Israel was “destroying” the possibility of a two-state solution “through its current premeditated and deliberate policies.”

Terming Lapid’s comments ‘positive’, Abbas added a caveat saying, “…the real test of the seriousness and credibility of (his) position is the Israeli government sitting at the negotiating table immediately, to implement the two-state solution.”

During his speech on Thursday Lapid said, “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,” Lapid said, adding that any agreement would be conditional on a peaceful Palestinian state that would not threaten Israel.

Israel Prime Minister Lapid at the UN – “A two-state solution is the right thing for Israel’s security and economy…But we have only one condition – that a future Palestinian state will be a peaceful one”

Thank you PM @yairlapid a fantastic speech#UNGA pic.twitter.com/MO0Il0T4Jw

— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר (@emilykschrader) September 22, 2022

It is pertinent to note that Israel is headed for elections in November. Poll surveys show that Netanyahu might be in for a comeback. Thus, experts are of the view that Lapid’s speech was meant to win over the Israeli left, Arabs and the centre-right.

Saudi FM says Israel’s PM statement on two-state solution positive

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister told Al Arabiya TV on Friday that Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s statement on the two-state solution with Palestinians was “positive” if it was translated into actions.

Peace needed direct talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud added.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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