Yair Lapid, who heads the Yesh Atid Party on Tuesday 14 Cheshvan revealed his party platform on a number of issues to the tzibur. He announced that his party, which the polls signal will receive in the area of 15 seats, will not join any coalition that does not agree to renew the negotiating process with the PA (Palestinian Authority).

Mr. Lapid made his remarks addressing a forum in Ariel University in Shomron. He began by stating he made a point of announcing his platform in Ariel, seeking to show the significance of the community and location. He rejected the efforts of the “left-wing extremists who try to delegitimize Ariel and other communities in Yehuda and Shomron”.

Regarding the communities located in Yehuda and Shomron, he stated he believes Gush Etzion, Maale Adumim and Ariel will always remain under Israeli sovereignty, signaling a willingness to dismantle the homes of tens of thousands of families living throughout those areas. Regarding the so-called “Palestinian right of return” he stated he is opposed to such a move, in line with the current platform of Likud and Yisrael Beitenu, which are running on a joint ticket. Analysts believe it is likely that Yesh Atid would join the others in becoming a main coalition partner.

While he did not actually come out and say it, the omission of the other yishuvim signals his willingness to support a plan for settlement blocs to permit the establishment of a Palestinian state in most areas of Yehuda and Shomron, which would result in the destruction of most yishuvim and only the communities listed above would remain.

Lapid feels a Palestinian state must be created to avoid Israel becoming a “bi-national state” and he blames the current administration of “wasting four years” for failing to advance the negotiating process with the PA. “The Palestinians are a reality and perhaps we don’t like them or they don’t like us, but this is today’s reality. Netanyahu’s claim ‘we don’t have a partner’ is an effort to evade this reality.”

His comments were met with opposition among some seated in the audience who shouted out “Lapid wants to throw me out of my home”.

On the Iranian front he stated “The military option is and must remain an option, but a last resort.” Lapid feels the government is not handling the matter properly, stating “we don’t have to solve the problem of the world but we are supposed to get the world to solve it for us.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)