BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded sharply yesterday to Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid’s suggestion for Israel to put forward its map for final status agreement with the  Palestinians before initiating a separation, calling it a potentially “reckless plan.” Lapid advanced the plan at the annual Herzliya Conference on Sunday.

Addressing his Likud faction yesterday, Netanyahu alluded indirectly to Lapid, commenting, “Someone who is inexperienced in diplomatic negotiations and security matters should not initiate a reckless plan whose results would be akin to those of [the 2005 Gaza] disengagement.” Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005 and since then faced frequent rocket attacks from Gaza. Netanyahu pledged to “continue to lead the country in a careful and responsible manner.”

The debate between Netanyahu and Lapid comes as several Israeli leaders mull the prospect of next steps following the suspension of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in April. Also speaking at the Herzliya Conference, Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett reiterated his suggestion of formally annexing Area C areas of the West Bank under its control, whilst enhancing Palestinian self-government in other areas of the West Bank. Both Lapid and Hatnuah leader and chief Israeli peace negotiator Tzipi Livni warned they would leave the government if any such move were attempted.

Meanwhile, Yisrael Beitenu leader and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman yesterday addressed both Bennett’s plan and Lapid’s threat to potentially quit the government, saying, “They both know that there is no chance that either of these things will happen.” Lieberman then called on Netanyahu to initiate a clear diplomatic plan “as soon as possible.”

Netanyahu has repeatedly expressed his concern at the possible emergence of a “binational state” if there is no progress towards a two state solution. A cabinet committee has been formed to address alternative paths forward, but Netanyahu is yet to set out his own alternative to move beyond the current impasse.