Netanyahu's Election Slogan Contrasted With Opposition's Stance on Palestinian Statehood

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently framed the upcoming elections around a singular question: "Right-wing or Palestine?" He repeatedly uses this slogan, implying that an opposition victory would lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state. However, the article argues this claim is detached from reality, as all leaders of the "change bloc" opposition parties have expressed opposition to a Palestinian state.

Naftali Bennett, chairman of the "Yachad" party, has consistently and firmly rejected the idea of a Palestinian state, even in a demilitarized form. He stated in an August interview that he opposes a Palestinian state under any circumstances, viewing its establishment as a significant threat to Israel and an irreversible move that could allow millions of Palestinian refugees' descendants to enter. He reiterated this stance in July, emphasizing he would not allow a Palestinian state or cede territories, even for normalization with Saudi Arabia.

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of "Yisrael Beiteinu," has also consistently opposed a Palestinian state, despite past remarks suggesting otherwise. He recently proposed a plan to dismantle the Palestinian Authority and annul the Oslo Accords, while maintaining Israeli security control over all of Judea and Samaria. His plan involves transferring civil administration in areas A and B to Jordanian control, including policing, aiming to prevent a Palestinian state and avoid a power vacuum that Hamas could exploit.

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the "Yashar!" party, stated in late August that he opposes a Palestinian state, deeming the pursuit of peace now unrealistic and strategically detrimental to Israel. He affirmed that his future government would not establish a Palestinian state. Yoram Cohen, number two in "Yashar!," also expressed skepticism, suggesting autonomy might be the maximum achievable outcome in the future.

Yair Golan, chairman of the "Democrats," has previously supported a Palestinian state, but currently opposes its establishment, viewing it as a distant vision. He advocates for full Israeli security freedom alongside civil separation, not a Palestinian state. He stated in September that discussing a Palestinian state after the October 7th Hamas attack is "destructive to Israel."

The article concludes that Netanyahu's warning about the opposition establishing a Palestinian state is inaccurate, not only concerning Bennett, Lieberman, and Eisenkot, but even Golan. It further suggests that even if the Arab party Ra'am were to join a coalition led by Eisenkot, a Palestinian state is highly improbable. The article also points to the significant expansion of Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria since 2023, with MK Zvi Sukkot claiming this expansion has made a Palestinian state impossible and citing a "New Yorker" report that suggests the two-state solution is becoming irrelevant.