Politicians Across Israeli Political Spectrum Ridicule Lapid's United Nations’ Speech
Politicians from the right rejected talks of a two-state solution, while some on the left expressed doubt that Lapid would act.
Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked said, "Yair Lapid speaks only for himself when he supports a Palestinian state. This is just a meaningless election stunt. We will never allow the creation of a Palestinian terror state in the heart of the Land of Israel. Such a state would be a hotbed of extremism, a launching pad for terror and a source of regional instability."
Betzalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionist party head Betzalel Smotrich called Lapid's statements "high and pleasant words that cover up a shameful surrender to terrorism and a drive to divide the country, give away territories and expel thousands of Jews from their homes. Lapid and Gantz returned the Palestinian Authority to the center of the discourse and the international stage, instilled hope in the sails of Palestinian nationalism, and the citizens of Israel are already feeling the results in waves of terrorism and a dangerous escalation in Judea and Samaria."
Joint List MK Aida Touma-Sliman responded with sarcasm to Lapid's address, tweeting "wow Yair, you've convinced me: you deserve an Oscar!"
Shlomo Ne'eman, the leader of the Judea and Samaria Council said, "The backing that the temporary prime minister gave to terrorism will bring us to ruin. The nation of Israel will not be chased out of Judea and Samaria. We will keep on building the land of our forefathers."
Following Lapid’s speech at the UN, a clear difference between Israel’s left-wing and right-wing camps has re-emerged. And it has the strong potential to become the defining issue of Israel’s fifth election cycle, wrote Alex Traiman of JNS.
With just 29 words, from the stage at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, continues Alex Traiman, temporary caretaker & interim Prime Minister Yair Lapid may have completely changed Israel’s fifth election landscape from the first four election cycles over the past two-and-a-half years.
“From the podium of one of the world’s largest international diplomatic forums,” concludes Alex Traiman, Lapid stated, “An agreement with the Palestinians, based on two states for two peoples, is the right thing for Israel’s security, for Israel’s economy and for the future of our children.”
Lapid blocked Netanyahu from forming a government by essentially bribing Naftali Bennett with the chair of prime minister, despite Bennett receiving barely 5% of the popular vote, in exchange for Bennett’s defection from his own voter base and the larger right-wing political camp; Bennett also turned back on his repeated campaign promises never to sit with Lapid in a coalition.
