Jewish Home to quit Israeli government if it recognises Palestinian state

Head of Israel’s Jewish Home Party Naftali Bennett warned that his party would leave the government if it recognised a Palestinian state, Quds Press reported yesterday.

Speaking to Channel 2, Bennett said believes in “Palestinian autonomy” which would be achieved by Israel imposing full sovereignty over Area C which constitutes 61 per cent of the occupied West Bank.

According to his “Stability Plan” plan, Palestinian can rule over Area A without any Israeli interference, but without real independence.

He suggested that those living in Area C, which includes mostly illegal settlements, are given the choice to have Israeli citizenship.

Though he doesn’t oppose holding talks with Palestinians, he said recognising a Palestinian state was not one of the terms agreed upon when his party joined the government.

“There will never be a Palestinian state and any talks about the return to pre-1967 borders and dividing Jerusalem will dissolve the government,” he said, “we must not give the Palestinians any piece of land.”

If the Jewish Home were to quit the government it would leave it short of the seats it needs to hold majority.