BICOM

Speaking yesterday evening at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference in Washington, Israel’s Defence Minister Ehud Barak called for the next Israeli government to launch a “daring peace initiative vis-à-vis the Palestinians,” in order to reach a “reasonable, fair, interim agreement.”

He called the two-state solution “the only viable long-term solution” and a “compelling imperative for us… not a favour to the Palestinians.” However, he also emphasised that should such an agreement prove impossible to reach, then Israel should “consider unilateral steps that would include demarcating a line within which Israel would keep the settlement blocs and ensure a Jewish majority for generations to come.” Barak stressed that such a move would include a “long term security presence on the Jordan River.”

In what is expected to be one of his last major addresses in office, Barak outlined the security and diplomatic challenges facing the country. Barak underlined that Iran’s nuclear programme remains “the greatest challenge facing Israel.” He proposed that the United States construct a “regional security framework,” which would bring Middle Eastern countries together to tackle the “joint challenges of radical Islamist terror, border security, missile defence and Iran.” Barak said that while sanctions and diplomacy must continue to be employed to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions, they are unlikely to lead to “a moment of truth in which the ayatollahs give up their nuclear programme.” As a result, alluding to the possibility of military action, he called for all options to remain on the table, saying “we expect all who say it to mean it,” adding that “we mean it.”

Barak announcement his intention to quit politics prior to the recent Israeli election and is expected to be replaced as defence minister when a new Israeli government is formed later this month.