Yashar party chairman and former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot presented a hawkish diplomatic position regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state, while at the same time opposing the advancement of construction in the E1 area between Jerusalem and Maaleh Adumim.
Earlier this month, the Israeli government issued the tender for seven residential compounds containing 1,234 housing units. The units are part of approximately 3,400 homes in E1 that received approval last August.
In an interview with Israel Hayom's Danny Zaken, Eisenkot said, "Anyone who thinks about a two-state solution after October 7 is simply delusional," stressing that Palestinian terrorism against Israel is "deep-rooted and profound."
However, when asked about advancing construction in the E1 area, he told Israel Hayom, "Not now. This is a mistake that costs us an international price," he said. According to Eisenkot, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also opposed advancing the plan in the past, but in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre "gave in to coalition pressure and approved it."
Eisenkot also sharply criticized Otzma Yehudit ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, claiming that their actions, along with incidents of violence by settlers against Palestinian Arabs, are harming Israel's international standing and "endangering the entire settlement enterprise." He said that "the two are undermining Israel's national interest."
According to Eisenkot, Israel's diplomatic and security campaign should be conducted in a way that would, in his opinion, prevent damage to Israel's standing in the world.