Herzog: Vote 'yes' to Palestinian statehood

Labor MK says Israel should offer to support UN vote in exchange for an immediate start to peace talks.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Herzog 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
Herzog 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
In exchange for starting negotiations on borders, Israel should offer to vote in favor of Palestinian statehood in the UN General Assembly in September, Labor MK Isaac Herzog (Labor) suggested on Tuesday.
“The government’s attitude, which assumes an Israeli loss, is defeatist and unoriginal,” Herzog told reporters outside a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting.
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The Labor leadership candidate suggested that Israel take two “controlled and responsible” steps.
“First, we should put forward a diplomatic initiative that will close gaps with the US. Then we should say yes to a Palestinian state in the UN, and continue negotiating the next day.”
“The foreign minister’s attitude is wrong,” Herzog added. “It will bring us to a dead end. It’s dangerous and irresponsible.”
Emphasizing the difference in their views, Herzog said that Lieberman “is talking about basketball, while I’m talking about soccer. We’re in a field that can’t be controlled.”
Herzog spoke a day after a UN Security Council announcement that the body would discuss Palestinian statehood in July. The unilateral bid would have to be approved by the Security Council before it was put to a vote by the General Assembly in September.
The US has told Palestinian and Israeli officials that it would veto the Palestinian initiative.
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