Knesset Land of Israel lobby heads MK Yoav Kish (Likud) and MK Bezalel Smotrich (Jewish Home) sent a letter today to leaders of the AIPAC lobby in the United States, including President of the Board of Directors Ms. Lillian Pinkus, Chairman Mr. Robert Cohen, Chief Executive Officer Mr. Howard Kohr, and members of the Executive Council. In it they demanded that AIPAC policy on the two-state solution, as expressed at the opening of the current conference, be amended.
"AIPAC is in the forefront of guaranteeing the lasting quality of this relationship, and the members of the Land of Israel Caucus greatly appreciate your tireless efforts on our behalf. Our joint values and aspirations for tikun olam, making the world a better place, insure the never-ending bond between our two countries.
"With this is mind, we would like to address AIPAC’s obsolete policy for a two-state solution to solve the Israel-Arab conflict in our region.
"The ruling party, the Likud, in 2002 voted and presented an official policy statement rejecting the two-state notion and this policy remains in place. Moreover, the two-state proposal is opposed by the majority of the ministers of the Israeli government, most of the ruling government coalition, and most importantly, by the broad spectrum of the citizens of Israel. Pointedly, the two-state idea is not included in the coalition’s defining principles and policy guidelines.
"'We returned to the Land of Israel by the might of our right,' in the words of Prime Minister Begin, 'and not by the right of our might'.
"We urge you, the honorable AIPAC leadership and members, to revise your policy and mold your vision taking into account lessons of the past, existing realities and the will of the people of Israel.