Palestinian status hangs over Israeli election debate

Candidates from four Israeli parties or lists vying for election on the 22January debated the issue of foreign policy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on Tuesday.

Reuters/Baz Ratner

The debate centred mainly on the issue of Palestinian-Israeli relations, in the light of Palestine’s recognition as a non-member observer state by the United Nations.

Candidates tried to undermine the ruling Likud party as well as curb expected gains by elements of far-right pro-settler parties on the issue of Iran and feared growing Israeli isolation following the Arab Spring.

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Ruth Michaelson in Jerusalem

Yaakov Peri of Yesh Atid (There is a Future) argued that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had drawn international criticism by deepening Israeli isolationism and a stalemate in negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, an idea that Isaac Herzog of Labor agreed with.

“The UN vote was a total failure on the part of the Israeli government," he said. "Not that I feel that the Palestinians were justified in their claim, but I feel and we feel that it could have been prevented.”

Both argued that the current government has also failed to do enough to rekindle relations with the regional powers of Egypt and Turkey.

Representing the Likud-Beiteinu list, Tzachi Hanegbi said that only reelecting Netanyahu would bring the stability that others seek.

But it was Nathali Bennett who drew the most attention, with the views of his far-right Jewish Home party seen as likely to be a guiding force for the incoming coalition.

“We believe, I believe, that if a Palestinian state would be founded just a few hundred metres from here … it would ensure a Hobbesian lifestyle of eternal strife and a miserable life for the next 200 years between us and the Palestinians,” he declared.

The debate came as The Times of Israel published a poll stating that 43 per cent of Israelis will prioritise economic over foreign policy issues when voting at the end of January.