After Housing Minister (Bayit Yehudi) Uri Ariel announced the planned construction of 1,200 homes in yishuvim and Yerushalayim, Finance Minister (Yesh Atid) Yair Lapid called the move a mistake, criticizing the timing as the government is involved in renewed negotiations with the PA (Palestinian Authority).

As Naftali Bennett and his housing minister work to build in yishuvim, his coalition ally, Yair Lapid, sent a delegation to meet with senior PA (Palestinian Authority) officials in Budapest over the weekend. The three Yesh Atid MKs who met with the PA officials included MKs Dov Lipman, Yifat Kariv and Boaz Toporovsky. Joining them were MK (Labor) Moshe Mizrachi, and MK (The Movement) David Tzur. Representing the PA were former cabinet ministers Kadura Farris and Samich el-Abed along with a number of MPs.

Speaking to reporters on the phone, MK Kariv explained “we are here to give our backing to the political process towards reaching agreement as quickly as possible.” She explained that the two state solution must be implemented the sooner the better, adding “I am confident that the other side is genuinely interested and Israel has a partner.”

Kariv feels that announcements of building in Yehuda and Shomron along with opposition to a two-state solution damage efforts to reach agreement. She calls on the government to make “bold and necessary decisions.”

When asked about Yesh Atid’s relationship with Bayit Yehudi, Kariv explained that while the two parties cooperated to permit forming a coalition government, there is no doubt regarding differences of hashkafa between the parties on these matters.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)