Skip to main content

Israel's Lapid praised by left, lambasted by right, over backing two-state solution

Prime Minister Yair Lapid took quite a lot of fire Sept. 22, after expressing his support for the two-state solution in his UN General Assembly speech.
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid gives a speech during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters, New York, Sept. 22, 2022.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly Sept. 22, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid returned the two-state solution to center stage. “Despite all the obstacles, still today a large majority of Israelis support the vision of this two-state solution. I am one of them,” said Lapid.

Still, while the stage and the audience were international, Lapid’s words were directed to Israeli public opinion. In fact, more than a diplomatic speech, it was a political speech at the height of an election campaign. Clearly, the speech should allow Lapid to assume the mantle of the leader of Israel’s center-left, and the bloc’s candidate for the role of prime minister. 

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.