Netanyahu's Challenger Opposes Two-State Solution

Gadi Eisenkot, widely seen as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main rival in the upcoming October election, has declared his strong opposition to a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In an interview with the newspaper Israel Hayom, Eisenkot, a former chief of staff for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), described the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel as a "bitter mistake."

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opposed to a two-state solution

Eisenkot's centrist party, Yashar!, is currently polling as the largest faction in the Knesset, Israel's parliament. However, neither Yashar! nor Netanyahu's Likud party are expected to secure a majority on their own, making broad coalition governments the norm in Israeli politics. Eisenkot has previously faced criticism for not taking a clear stance on the two-state solution debate.

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establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel would be a 'bitter mistake'

During the interview, Eisenkot stated that anyone still talking about a two-state solution after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, is "completely crazy." Despite this hardline stance on Palestinian statehood, Eisenkot also voiced criticism of the more extreme members within Netanyahu's government. He specifically condemned settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, expressing particular concern that the ongoing expansion of settlements could damage Israel's international standing.

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anyone who talks about a two-state solution after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, is 'completely crazy'