
Opposition leader MK Yitzhak Herzog (Zionist Union) on Monday warned that unless his “separation plan” is implemented, Israel may lose its hold on Jerusalem.
"If we do not separate from the Palestinian villages - we will lose Jerusalem. If not we do not separate from the Palestinians, Jews will continue to be murdered here by terrorists who can come out of these villages at any moment," Herzog warned during a tour with MKs Amir Peretz and Omer Bar-Lev in the area surrounding Jerusalem.
He added, "We have to take Issawiya out of Jerusalem, and Qalqilia out of Tel Aviv and Kfar Saba. It is the only process that will keep Israel Jewish and safe."
"The dream of [Naftali] Bennett and Uri Ariel is the nightmare of the citizens of Israel and the residents of Jerusalem,” continued Herzog. “We'll wake up one morning with a Palestinian mayor. This is the real threat to the fate of Jerusalem, the eternal city that was united but now messianic elements want the destroy this achievement.”
In recent months Herzog has continuously pushed for what he calls a “separation plan”, which is essentially unilateral steps to be taken by Israel to divide the country by building a massive fence separating between the Jews and Palestinian Arabs, thus splitting the Jewish state.
He has said the Palestinian Authority (PA) would be given civilian authority over its region according to his plan, while the IDF would retain security authority until a peace deal is signed. He also called for a regional committee with Jordan, Egypt and other Arab states to advance the fight against terror groups and introduce "confidence building measures."
Herzog has also routinely blasted members of the Jewish Home, describing them as “messianic” and claiming that annexing areas of Judea and Samaria, as they are calling to do, would result in more terrorist attacks against Israelis.
Herzog’s recent statements that the "two-state solution" is not feasible at the current time have caused friction between him and his party members, particularly Shelly Yechimovich who has announced she would challenge him for the party leadership.