Two-state solution is unfeasible, says Israeli FM

In an address to top European Union diplomats on Monday, Israel’s occupation Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said the two-state solution is unfeasible.

“It is no secret that I support a two-state solution. Unfortunately, there is no current plan for this,” Lapid said at a meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, attended by 26 EU foreign ministers.

Lapid added, “However, there is one thing we all need to remember. If there is eventually a Palestinian state, it must be a peace-loving democracy.”

“We cannot be asked to take part in the building of another threat to our lives,” he said.

Lapid addressed the normalization deals signed with Arab countries last year, saying the occupation government wants to “broaden the circle of peace to additional states.”

“Something good is happening between us and the moderates in the Arab world,” Lapid said. “I want to broaden the circle of peace to additional states.”

The UAE was the first country to agree to normalize ties with the occupation state last year, under the Abraham Accords, a pact brokered by the United States, a move that was followed by Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.

Palestinians condemned the normalization agreements, saying they encouraged Israel’s denial of their rights and do not serve the Palestinian cause.

Abu Dhabi said the deal was an effort to stave off Israel’s planned annexation of the occupied West Bank, however, opponents believe normalization efforts have been in the offing for many years as Israeli officials have made official visits to the UAE and attended conferences in the country which had no diplomatic or other ties with the occupation state.

Lapid stated that he seeks to expand the scope of the agreements to Palestinians as well.

“What we need to do now is ensure that no steps are taken that will prevent the possibility of peace in the future, and we need to improve the lives of Palestinians. Whatever is humanitarian, I will be for it. Everything that builds the Palestinian economy, I am for it,” he said.

Lapid also noted that “Israel has shared interests with the EU,” seeking to open a new chapter with the bloc after over a decade of strained ties.

“Israel has shared interests with the EU — but more than that, we have shared values: human rights, LGBTQI+ community rights, a commitment to the basic elements of democracy: a free press, an independent judiciary, a strong civil society, freedom of religion,” Lapid claimed.

“We are committed to fighting together the climate crisis, international terrorism, racism, and extremism,” he said

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