Deputy Transportation Minister Tzipi Hotovely
Deputy Transportation Minister Tzipi HotovelyFlash 90

The Oslo Accords have failed and it’s time to come up with a new concept, Deputy Transportation Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) said on Thursday.

Hotovely spoke at an event at the Tel Aviv University marking 20 years since the signing of the Oslo Accords, which was also attended by MK Yitzchak Herzog (Labor) and Dr. Yair Hirschfeld, one of the architects of the Oslo Accords.

"The Oslo paradigm does not work and it’s time to think outside the box. The two-state solution is not feasible and neither is the continuation of the status quo, which will lead to international de-legitimization of Israel," said Hotovely.

She called for a solution of coexistence with the Palestinian Authority Arabs, saying, “We should apply Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, and give the Palestinians full Israeli citizenship including civil rights and duties. The demographic ratio currently stands at a clear Jewish majority and in order to preserve it, Israel should set a national goal of bringing in a million olim over the course of a decade.

"Four governments worked under the Oslo parameters and failed to realize its main goals - peace and improving Israel's standing in the world,” said Hotovely. “The visions of peace were shattered with the wave of terror attacks that took place under the governments of Rabin and Barak. And yet the Israeli government continued to seek a solution, while the Palestinians consistently refused far-reaching offers, such as the one by Ehud Barak, who offered to split Jerusalem, and that of Olmert regarding the right of return.”

Hotovely noted the absence of PA official Ahmed Qurei (Abu Alaa), who was supposed to attend the conference but chose not to show up, saying that this proves that the PA is choosing to distance itself from peace.

“The Palestinian representative is absent from the discussion, and only Israelis and a representative of the international community are debating among themselves. The Palestinians are running away from peace,” stated Hotovely.

MK Herzog admitted during the discussion that the 2005 expulsion of communities in Gush Katif, as part of the “disengagement” from Gaza, was a mistake which created trauma in Israeli society.

"We have to separate ourselves from the Arabs, but Israelis live in deep denial and do not believe they have a partner for peace and Gaza cannot be taken out of the equation,” said Herzog, adding, “On the other hand, [PA Chairman Mahmoud] Abbas has made an historic mistake by choosing to run away instead of sitting down with Prime Minister Netanyahu.”

Herzog took advantage of the discussion to poke fun at Netanyahu and his coalition, saying, "Lapid and Bennett have taken all of Bibi’s agendas, and the only thing Bibi has left is his promise to enter peace negotiations.”