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Yair Lapid
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Thursday called for a two-state solution to the decades-old conflict with the Palestinians, and also vowed that Israel would do “whatever it takes” to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb.
Lapid’s statements, which came in the United Nations General Assembly, in support of the US president, confirm the direction of the US president, who called for the long-awaited two-state solution during his visit to Israel in August.
The comments also come following years of Israeli leaders avoiding any mention of the issue at the United Nations.
“The agreement with the Palestinians on the basis of two states for two peoples is the right thing for Israel’s security, Israel’s economy and the future of our children,” Lapid said, adding that any agreement would be conditional on a peaceful Palestinian state that does not threaten Israel.
Lapid’s speech came less than six weeks before the November 1 elections, which might return to power former right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a long-time opponent of a two-state solution.
Israel annexed East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, areas where the Palestinians seek an independent state, in the 1967 war. US-sponsored peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians collapsed in 2014.
In his speech, Lapid denounced Iran and expressed Israel’s determination to prevent its old foe from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“The only way to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is to put a real military threat on the table,” Lapid said.
“We have capabilities and we are not afraid to use them,” he added.
Israel is widely believed to be the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons, and Iran is considered an existential threat. Tehran denies trying to develop a nuclear weapon.
