MK hopeful advocates for one-state solution
The one-state solution is the only viable option for peace, according to Zehut member and businessman Albert Levy.
“Let’s face it – the Oslo Accords is dead; the two-state solution is dead,” Levy said, speaking at the Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference on Wednesday. “We stand now before a fantastic window of opportunity to achieve real peace in the region. The one-state solution is the only realistic solution and should be implemented now.”
Levy, who was born and raised in Morocco, moved to France at age 17, and made aliyah 24 years ago, joining Moshe Feiglin’s Zehut (‘Identity’) party in 2015 after its founding. He is hoping to enter the next Knesset as a member of Feiglin’s list.
In a brief presentation, Levy broke down why the one-state solution is the most logical pathway to peace strategically and demographically – and contrary to popular belief, is not against conventional international law.
Strategically, he cited the 2005 pullout from Gaza as catastrophic. And, should the same occur in the West Bank, added that the results will be dire for Israel. “From a strategic perspective, a two-state solution would spell suicide for Israel,” he said.
Levy also claimed that the demographic statistics put forth by the PA are highly inflated and that Israel will not be outnumbered by Palestinians in the West Bank. He cited an increasing birthrate and the increase in Jews making aliyah as reasons for the Jewish population boom in the West Bank.
As for international support, he said the tide is turning in Israel’s favor. “All over the world, most people have understood by now that jihad is not directly against Israel only, but the entire world. Israel is on the frontlines,” Levy said. He listed Jordan, Kuwait and Egypt as examples of countries who would have little to gain from an emboldened Hamas.
“Leaders today don’t actually want to see a Palestinian state. Jordan knows it will quickly pose a security threat, Kuwait and Egypt know what it’s like to have Gaza operated by the terrorist group Hamas,” he said.
Regarding international law, Levy argued that it is incorrect to assume that Israel is disregarding Article 49 of the Geneva Convention – which states that a sovereign state can’t transfer its population to the territory of another sovereign state. However, he said that Article 2 specifies that this rule only applies to sovereign states, which the PA is not.
Finally, Levy argued against Palestinian national identity. “You may have heard that the Palestinians have a specific national identity according to which they are entitled to self-determination and to their own state. This is completely wrong!,” he argued, saying that Palestinians are part of the greater Arab nation.