JERUSALEM: As Israel prepares for next week’s election, the question of the intractable conflict with the Palestinians has been conspicuous by its absence from most party campaigning.

But it is an issue no Israeli government can afford to ignore as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens and the Palestinian leadership advances legal and diplomatic action against Israel on the international stage.

Take a look: Arab lawmakers shake up Israeli politics with historic union

Here is an outline of the main parties’ positions on the issue:

Likud

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government held nine months of indirect talks with the Palestinians until the negotiations collapsed in April 2014.

In 2009, Netanyahu became the first Likud leader to agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state — albeit demilitarised — but a Likud statement this week suggested that stance had changed. His spokesman denied any U-turn.

Netanyahu has repeatedly ruled out a Palestinian demand for a state within the lines that existed before the 1967 Six Day War, when Israel seized the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem.

He has also rejected any notion of a Palestinian capital in annexed east Jerusalem, vowing that the city will never be divided and that Israel will hold onto the major settlement blocs in any peace deal.

“To speak of [territorial] concessions at this time ... is simply irrelevant,” a Likud spokeswoman told AFP.

Zionist Union

Likud’s main challenger, the centre-left Zionist Union, has pledged to pursue a political agreement outlining Israel’s permanent borders with the support of moderate Arab states and the international community.

It would feature a demilitarised Palestinian state while Israel would retain sovereignty over the major Jewish settlement blocs as well as Jerusalem, with freedom of religion and access to all faiths guaranteed.

Palestinian refugees who fled or were forced out of their homes when the Jewish state was created in 1948 would not be allowed to return to Israel.

The Union says it will prevent any action that “harms the possibility of reaching a political agreement” pledging to stop settlement construction outside major blocs.

Yesh Atid

Yesh Atid supports the creation of a Palestinian state, championing a “regional accord” with Arab states, but would make major West Bank settlements part of Israel.

It is willing to discuss “land swaps” to reach an accord, and would freeze settlement building during negotiations, but would not relinquish control of Jerusalem.

LEADERS of the Zionist Union Isaac Herzog (centre) and Tzipi Livni (right) meet people at the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv during their election campaign.—AFP

It would also not grant right of return to Palestinian refugees — a key Palestinian and Arab demand.

Jewish Home

The far-right Jewish Home is completely opposed to “any kind of Palestinian state”, according to its manifesto.

Nor does it support a de facto one-state solution whereby Israel would incorporate the West Bank and its Palestinian population.

Party leader Naftali Bennett advocates a plan which would see Israel unilaterally annex swathes of the occupied West Bank and offer full citizenship to the 100,000 Palestinians living there, who would be given full self-governance.

He opposed the most recent round of peace talks, and has described the Palestinian issue as “shrapnel in the buttocks”.

Joint (Arab) List

The Joint List, which unites the main Arab parties along with a Jewish-Arab faction, places more importance on the Palestinian question than any other party.

“For us it’s a major issue,” spokeswoman Reut Mor told AFP.

Its platform calls for an end to Israel’s decades-long occupation and the establishment an independent Palestinian state living beside Israel, with borders along the 1967 lines.

It also demands the right of return for Palestinian refugees, consistent with the position of the Palestinian leadership.

Yisrael Beitenu

Yisrael Beitenu, a hardline nationalist faction, does not oppose the creation of a Palestinian state but has ruled out a bilateral peace deal in favour of a regional agreement with other Arab countries.

“Any agreement with the Palestinians must be part of an overall agreement that would include peace agreements with Arab states,” the party’s website says.

The party also backs the controversial idea of “transfer” which would see members of Israel’s Arab minority, “who identify with the Palestinians”, become part of the future state of Palestine.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2015

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