Israel Matzav

Bennett: 'Two-state solution has come to a dead end,' 'Palestinian problem like shrapnel in one's buttocks'

Well, this ought to set off the chattering classes. At a Yesha Council conference on public relations on Monday in Jerusalem, Jewish Home party leader Naftali Bennett announced that the 'two-state solution' has come to a dead end.

"Never have so many people invested so much energy in something that is hopeless," he said, adding that "the challenge now is how do we move forward from here, knowing that a Palestinian state within Israel is not possible."

"We have to move from solving the problem to living with the problem," Bennett stated, calling on Israel to annex Area C of the West Bank "as quickly as possible."

...

The economics and trade minister also suggested that instead of investing money on peace conferences, Israel should direct funds to an economic initiative to improve life for both Jews and Palestinians in Area C by repairing West Bank interchanges and building industrial parks.

As you might expect, Bennett has been attacked by the 'Palestinians' and by the Israeli Left, including members of the Left who are within Prime Minister Netanyahu's governing coalition.

In response to Bennett's comments, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat accused Israel of not being serious about peace, saying that "Israel has officially declared death of two-state solution."

Erekat added that efforts by US Secretary of State John Kerry to restart the peace process are a mere obstacle to Israel's plans to consolidate its occupation and negate Palestinian rights.

Hey Saeb - I don't know how official he is, but Bennett has officially declared the death of the two-state solution. What are you going to do about it? What evidence do you have that it's not so?

Bennett's comments raised the ire of both members of the opposition, and his own coalition partners in Yesh Atid.

Kadima head Shaul Mofaz called Bennett's statement that the two-state solution is at a dead end an "irresponsible comment that delegitimizes Israel in the eyes of the world."

Mofaz accused Bennett of "supporting a bi-national state" and said that with such statements "there is no future to negotiations and there is no future for peace."

Mofaz also aimed his attacks at Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, saying Bennett's comments indicate that the prime minister "proves that he says one thing and does another. This is why there is no trust between the [party] leaders."

Meanwhile, Science, Technology and Space Minister Yaakov Peri of Yesh Atid told Army Radio that he believes the two state solution is the only solution that could prevent a bi-national state.

When asked about the partnership between his party and Bennett's Bayit Yehudi party, Peri said he didn't think the cooperation could last in light of Bennett's statements.

Hey - it would be pretty cool if this coalition broke up. Which hand would Bibi follow - his left or his right?

But here are some more comments from Bennett, which have thus far only made it to Twitter:

Yes, Bennett compared the "Palestinian problem" to shrapnel in ones buttocks that one can live with rather than face surgical dangers.#Jpost
— Tovah Lazaroff (@tovahlazaroff) June 17, 2013

You got to love that comment.

. @naftalibennett : I hear the media is shocked that I oppose a Palestinian state. That was always our stance. #JPost
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) June 17, 2013

. @meretzparty MK Freij: @naftalibennett may think Palestinians are a pain in the but, but he is like constipation #JPost
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) June 17, 2013

Heh. I think Bennett is pointing out the elephant in the room, and I challenge anyone to make a coherent argument why the 'two-state solution' is still possible (and not 'it has to be because it's necessary/we want it to be').

Labels: Jewish Home party, Naftali Bennett, Saeb Erekat, Shaul Mofaz, two-state solution, Yair Lapid, Yesh Atid party

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:34 PM