Is he cutting left again? Bennett speaks out in favor of a Palestinian state

September 19, 2024   

Is he cutting to the left? Again? Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has, as is well known, spoken out more than once against the idea of ​​establishing a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria, which he called, among other things, a "terror state." However, according to documentation revealed this evening [Thursday] in the main edition of Channel 14, a new picture emerges. In recent days, Bennett has been in Germany. Among other things, he was interviewed by the newspaper "Bild", met with senior officials and spoke with the Jewish communities in Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt, at the invitation of Keren Hayesod. In his second lecture, in which he was interviewed by a journalist named Guy Katz and answered questions from the audience, he was asked about the implications of October 7 on the idea of ​​establishing a Palestinian state. Bennett, the former CEO of the Yesha Council, has spoken out hundreds, if not thousands, of times in the past against the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state as a neighbor of Israel. That's how his response on the subject began – when he claimed that he now opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state and that it is not feasible – but the rest of his response surprised the many present in the hall. "What we need to do in the short term is to reduce friction with the Palestinians," Bennett said, as reported, "to improve their sense of dignity, their autonomy, but not to give up our security. And we can discuss a Palestinian state in six years, maybe, or eight years." Thus, in fact, the former prime minister did not rule out the possibility that a Palestinian state would be established with his support. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett was quoted as saying: "It would be better for the operators of the poison machine to direct their talents against Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas and not against the people of Israel inward. If they had done that, Israel would not be in the current terrible disaster. Bennett is against a Palestinian state, period. Unlike Netanyahu, who declared his support for a Palestinian state and handed over many territories to Arafat. Bennett believes that it is possible and necessary to form a broad unity government, even with people who think differently." The Likud responded: "After the terrible massacre on October 7, it is forbidden to reward terrorism and allow a Palestinian state. It seems that Bennett has not freed himself from the shackles of Mansour Abbas. Prime Minister Netanyahu has already proven over the past 20 years that he is the only barrier to the establishment of a terrorist state between the sea and the Jordan.".