Once again, the Israeli right wing is correct in claiming that the left has taken control of the media. In late May, Israeli media outlets disseminated the following left-wing statement: “The Arab Peace Initiative contains positive elements that could help revive constructive negotiations with the Palestinians. … We are willing to negotiate with the Arab states revisions to that initiative so that it reflects the dramatic changes in our region since 2002, but maintains the agreed goal of two states for two peoples.” For those who have forgotten, the peace initiative is based on the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 border lines (with possible land swaps) and does not mention the term “Jewish state.”
The above remarks were spoken by none other than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the ceremony anointing Avigdor Liberman as defense minister on May 31. The leader of Yisrael Beitenu, a party not known for its leftist leanings, gave the prime minister’s declaration of diplomacy his full-throated support. “I want to remind people that for many years … I spoke more than once about recognizing, that same solution of two states for two peoples,” Liberman told listeners. He added, “[Egyptian] President [Fattah] al-Sisi's speech was very important and has created a genuine opportunity. We must try to pick up the gauntlet.”
