Lapid rejects Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine solution
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has finally emerged from the cocoon of silence that has enveloped all current 120 Knesset members – choosing to reject a solution emanating from Saudi Arabia on June 8 calling for the merger of Jordan, Gaza and part of the West Bank into one territorial entity to be called the Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine (Saudi Solution).
Lapid has opted instead to continue his longstanding support for the United Nations’ 29-year-old failed solution calling for the creation of a new State of Palestine between Israel and Jordan for the first time in recorded history (United Nations Solution)
Lapid’s support was, however, conditional:
“We have only one condition: That a future Palestinian state will be a peaceful one. That it will not become another terror base from which to threaten the well-being, and the very existence of Israel”
It is unclear whether Lapid had forgotten or had abandoned another condition which he had stipulated – when he told 26 European Union Foreign Ministers at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council on 11 July that:
“It is no secret that I support a two-state solution. Unfortunately, there is no current plan for this. However, there is one thing we all need to remember. If there is eventually a Palestinian State, it must be a peace-loving democracy”.
With conditions such as these, the likelihood of such a Palestinian State ever emerging will be virtually impossible to achieve.
Nevertheless, Lapid has had the courage of his convictions to finally state the policy he will adopt to try to end a conflict that has defied resolution for the last.100 years.
At least voters in the upcoming Israeli elections will know what to expect if Lapid becomes Israel’s next Prime Minister on 1 November.
The other 119 Knesset members – and those seeking to replace any of them who are retiring – continue to keep voters in the dark on what their policy will be in trying to achieve the long sought for peace to end the Jewish-Arab conflict.
The emergence of the Saudi Solution offered these reticent politicians a real choice – yet not one of them has had the intestinal fortitude finally – if belatedly – displayed by Lapid.
The Saudi Solution – in distinct contrast to the United Nations Solution – offers Israel the following concessions before negotiations are even commenced on implementing the proposal:
- Jerusalem will be the capital of Israel only
- No new State will be created between Israel and Jordan
- The right of return by Palestinian Arabs to Israel will be abandoned
- Jewish sovereignty in part of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) will be recognised for the first time in 3000 years
- Saudi Peace proposals made in 1981 and 2002 that were unacceptable to Israel will be superseded.P
The universal silence by Israeli politicians on the Saudi Solution since its publication almost four months ago is shameful.
One cannot expect every Israeli politician to embrace the Saudi Solution. They should publicly state their opposition.
But is there not one Israeli politician – Jew or Arab – other than Lapid – prepared to express his own opinion on conducting negotiations to determine if agreement can be reached on the Saudi Solutions’ groundbreaking proposals?
In particular, why have the leaders of sixteen of the seventeen major Israeli political parties contesting the elections – Netanyahu, Gantz, Sa’ar, Smotrich, Ben-Gvir, Deri, Litzman, Gafni, Shehadeh, Odeh, Tibi, Michaeli, Galon, Abbas, Shaked, Liberman and Hendel – refused to comment on the Saudi Solution since its publication?
Hopefully, these leaders – like Lapid – will break their silence on the Saudi Solution well before November 1.
Leaders lead from the front – not cower and huddle silently together behind the voters whose votes they seek.
David Singer is a Sydney lawyer and a foundation member of the International Analysts Network
Flogging a dead horse …
Why do you say that? What do you find objectionable in the Saudi Plan?
The usual rubbish Singer cannot get rid of. The “solution” is not wanted by the PA or by Hamas and the Saudis might be accepting that their “plan”, put forward to big note themselves, has been buried by the Abraham Accords.
How do you know the PA do not want the Saudi Solution?
Abbas has not said one word against the solution since it’s publication in June. All he had to say was “no way” – but he has not – nor has King Abdullah of Jordan or Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas.
How do you interpret their silence Paul?
The Abraham Accords coupled with the Saudi Solution gives real hope that the conflict can be resolved if negotiations are started to implement the Saudi Solution.
Well written David.
This proposal should be put forward continuously.
John
This is what I am doing – but the Saudi plan is being met with universal silence – not only by every single one of Israel’s politicians – apart from Lapid – but also by the Israeli media who have not published any political analysis of the plan apart from some 15 articles written by me and published in Arutz Sheva.
Journalists in the Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel have actually refused my direct requests to them to publish their opinions on the merits of the Saudi Plan.
On the Arab side – exactly the same silence is occurring.
Jordan, the PLO and Hamas have not rejected the Saudi Plan. One word of rejection by any of them would put paid to the plan. But they are silent – as is the Arab media.
The same can be said of the international media. I have urged top international analysts to publish their opinions on the Saudi Plan. Most have not responded but two of the world’s leading journalists did respond and declined to publish an article on the Saudi Plan.
I have urged the UN Secretary General to get the Security Council to discuss the Saudi Plan on at least six occasions and he has not even acknowledged my letters.
I wrote to the Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian Embassies in Canberra enclosing a copy of the Saudi Plan asking for their comments. None even acknowledged my letters.
I wrote to the New Israel Fund in Australia enclosing a copy of the Saudi Plan for comment and got no acknowledgment.
I am ashamed to say that I seem to be the only person on the planet writing about the Saudi Solution.
This groundbreaking Saudi Plan has achieved one remarkable result already – uniting Jews and Arabs and the media everywhere in a universal code of silence to not speak about or discuss its merits or failings.
The Saudi Plan – if implemented – could end the 100 years-old conflict. Negotiations to see if this can be successfully achieved should be backed by all of the above comrades locked together in a common code of silence But not one word from any of them.
I have written this response from Israel from the heart on the day of Kol Nidre. My conscience is clear. I cannot say the same for those of my Jewish brethren and sisters in Israel and worldwide who have sat in silence on the Saudi Plan for the last four months since it was published.
John – thank you for comment. It is nice to know that there is one other person in the world – apart from my wonderful publishers – including JWire in particular – who have been prepared to publish my articles.
As the conflict continues and Jewish lives are lost and Jewish families are devastated with those left maimed and permanently injured – these Jews of silence will be held accountable for not having at least called for negotiations on the Saudi Plan.
If you or other readers can provide me with an explanation of why this world wide silence is happening – please post your comments here.