Netanyahu lays into Lapid for remarks on Palestinian state
(Times of Israel / Worthy News)– Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck back at Finance Minister Yair Lapid on Monday for calling on the government to put forth its own vision for the contours of a future Palestinian state. Lapid, Israel, the prime minister warned, lacked sufficient experience in defense or negotiations and should refrain from urging Israel toward a hasty and ill-conceived deal with the Palestinians.
Netanyahu, speaking to Likud party members on Monday, quoted a statement made by Lapid in October 2012, when he first declared he was running for Knesset. “We must not repeat the historic mistakes of the left, which always announces ahead of time what it is ready to concede and therefore causes the Palestinians to want more and more — that’s not how you conduct negotiations,” Netanyahu said, quoting Lapid verbatim.
“Indeed,” he continued, alluding to Lapid’s as-yet brief time in politics, “we must not allow a lack of experience in negotiations and lack of experience in defense bring about a reckless plan, the result of which will be like the disengagement [from the Gaza Strip].”