Jewish Home chairman and Education Minister Naftali Bennett on Saturday night called for Israel to present its own vision for the future of the region, one that does not include a “two-state solution”.
His comments came a day after U.S. national security adviser H.R. McMaster said that during his upcoming visit to Israel, President Donald Trump “will express his desire for dignity and self-determination for the Palestinians", which appeared to hint that Trump would back a two-state solution.
“We can no longer operate a ‘bunker policy’,” Bennett said on Saturday night. "Israel must initiate and present its own vision. Otherwise, as seems to be happening once again, its fate will be determined by others. The Bar-Ilan speech was made during President Obama's term. The speech and the agreement to establish Palestine brought about boycotts, terrorism and a serious demographic threat, and now is the time to announce its cancellation."
"There are two possible methods: A continuation of the Bar-Ilan policy that advocates the establishment of a second Palestinian state, in addition to that in Gaza. That is a failed messianic formula that until now has led to bloodshed, political deterioration and will bring about a demographic disaster,” he continued.
“Alternatively,” Bennett said, “The State of Israel can establish its own vision for the future of the region: Regional economic development based on entrepreneurship, the prevention of a second Palestinian state in addition to that in Gaza, the imposition of sovereignty over the Israeli territories in Judea and Samaria, the stabilization of the Gaza Strip and the strengthening of the State of Israel as a security, intelligence and economic anchor in the region. It's time to initiate. Our future is in our hands.” READ MORE
