Most Israeli Parties Back Gaza Expulsion Plan, Report Says
Eight out of ten Israeli parties running in the upcoming Knesset elections support the "transfer plan," which involves the expulsion of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, according to a report. This plan is likened to the settlement project in the West Bank, which all Israeli parties have historically supported and successive Israeli governments have expanded since 1967. The current Netanyahu government has overseen the largest expansion, influenced by settler parties like Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism and Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit.
Ben-Gvir, the National Security Minister, recently presented his political program, centering on the Gaza "transfer plan," which he deceptively terms "voluntary migration." The plan outlines the establishment of a "Ministry of Immigration" in the next government, offering financial incentives to Palestinian families, and expelling 250,000 Palestinians in the first year, 1.11 million within three years, and 1.86 million within seven years. Ben-Gvir intends to make this plan a condition for joining the next government.
The "transfer plan" is supported by current coalition parties, including Likud, Religious Zionism, and the ultra-Orthodox parties, as well as opposition parties like Yisrael Beiteinu and Naftali Bennett's Yamina. Opposing the plan are parties led by Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan. The concept of "transfer" is not new, having been implemented during the 1948 Nakba and the 1967 war, resulting in the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and Syrians.
Historical figures like Rabbi Meir Kahane and former minister Rehavam Ze'evi advocated for similar plans. The idea has resurfaced significantly since October 7, with former head of military intelligence Tamir Hayman suggesting Israel has adopted a new security concept prioritizing military force over international agreements. Polls indicate a majority of Israelis support this "voluntary migration" amid the ongoing conflict.
Despite historical public outcry, such as the massive Tel Aviv demonstration after the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre, Israeli public opinion has shifted. The article notes that Ariel Sharon, held responsible for the massacre, was later elected Prime Minister. Daily incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque by settlers, sometimes led by ministers like Ben-Gvir, are also highlighted, contradicting Netanyahu's claims about the status quo.
While Hayman argues the shift began after October 7, the article contends that disregard for international agreements predates this, citing Netanyahu's and previous governments' rejection of the Oslo Accords. The article suggests a lack of significant public protest against the war in Gaza and West Bank actions, attributing this to a perceived "evaporation" of the Israeli left and a general public consensus aligning with the new security doctrine. It concludes that regardless of who forms the next government, the "transfer plan" is unlikely to be implemented due to the lack of any country willing to accept Gazan refugees and the absence of voluntary emigration among Palestinians.
