Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said today (Monday) that due to the fear that Israel will be defined as an apartheid state, it must hold a political discussion with the Palestinians.
In a briefing held earlier today, Lapid added that the security cabinet would soon discuss a scenario in which the Palestinian Authority would announce that it was ready to open negotiations with Israel.
In a briefing to the political correspondents, the Foreign Minister explained that the year 2022 is expected to be significant when it comes to the claims of the Palestinians and their supporters as if Israel is an apartheid state.
He explained that his remarks were based on an "information-based assessment", and that if there was a deterioration in the field, it would first harm Israel's sports and culture.
Lapid noted that the fight against this trend will be one of the main goals of the Foreign Ministry in the new year of work.
Foreign Ministry Director General Alon Ushpiz also said at the briefing that "in the coming year, decisions and processes with potential for significant damage are expected and that there is a real danger that an official UN body will determine that Israel is an apartheid state."
According to Foreign Ministry estimates, as set out in the annual work plan, declarations that Israel is an apartheid state may occur in the UN Human Rights Council, the Security Council or in one of the international tribunals. Unlimited time and a large operating budget.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Photo: AFP
Another course of action that Lapid favors is a political process with the Palestinians based on a two-state, two-nation formula.
"Without a political debate with the Palestinians, this (the danger that Israel will be defined as an apartheid state; etc.) will only get worse.
One should be careful of a situation where the world says that the Palestinians are promoting political negotiations and Israel is refusing. On the one hand they are talking about advancing negotiations and on the other hand they are filing lawsuits against Israel in The Hague and continuing to pay salaries to terrorists.
That is the challenge of the Foreign Ministry and it is moving in our direction. "
Lapid noted that the political-security cabinet will soon discuss the scenario that Israel will be branded an "apartheid state."
However, Lapid explained that in the current political situation it is not possible to conduct a political process.
He further said that even when he takes office as prime minister, in about a year and a half, the political composition of the government will not allow for a political process.
"This government consists of the range of Zeev Elkin and Ayelet Shaked to Mansour Abbas. I think it is good that the current foreign minister and who will serve as prime minister from August 2023 is a person who believes in a two-state solution. But even after the rotation, the same coalition will remain. , "Said Lapid.
He added that "the claim that Israel is an apartheid state is a blatant lie. It is a pile of anti-Semites but I do not take it lightly."
According to him, a solution to the challenge must now be prepared and not be surprised later on.
Do not automatically object to the agreement
Lapid also referred in the conversation to the nuclear talks that opened in Vienna and said that "Israel does not automatically oppose any agreement with Iran, but an agreement that is not good."
He further noted that Israel is in a "war of excavations" in his words with the aim of introducing improvements in the agreement.
Representatives of the powers in nuclear talks with Iran in Vienna, Photo: Archive / AFP
A political source added that the negotiations between the world powers and Iran are expected to end in a signed agreement.
"It would be a shocking surprise if there was no agreement at the end," a political source said.
The political source claimed that Israel is succeeding in influencing the position of the United States and the other powers that are taking part in the negotiations with Iran. He said, "The influence is in small things.
Slowly we are succeeding in bringing the US position closer to ours.
However, the political source emphasized that even if improvements are made to the emerging agreement, the chances of Israel supporting it are very low.
"We manage to go both ways at the same time. Also to make small improvements but also to make it clear that we will not be committed to it and that we reserve the right to act in self-defense as we see fit," the politician said.
"Abu Mazen should cease its international activities"
Lapid's remarks provoked stormy reactions in non-governmental organizations that work to strengthen Israel's position in the world.
Dr. Dori Gould, president of the Jerusalem Center for Public and State Affairs and former director general of the Foreign Ministry and Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, said that the foreign minister should call on the head of the PA, Mahmoud Abbas, to cease international activities contrary to the Oslo Accords. From it to act against Israel in UN institutions.
"Abbas, his senior ministers and their families greatly enjoyed the medical care they needed in the past in the State of Israel and received it impartially, regardless of religion, race or gender. So Israel, in their opinion, was not an apartheid state."
Ambassador Gold adds that the Foreign Minister must also call on the various organizations operating from Israel and pushing for the definition of Israel as an apartheid state, to immediately stop this activity that is perceived by the Israeli government as hostile activity.
The "Up to Here" organization said: "We recommend that Minister Lapid read the publications of far-left organizations in Israel, in order to discover that delegitimization organizations from the extreme left are the ones pushing the countries of the world and international organizations to define Israel as an apartheid state. "His office and the other government ministries, to deal with those domestic organizations that are harming the State of Israel by spreading lies around the world."
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us
