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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Labor to probe mass registration drive 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.
