Gabbay’s plan is called “Paths to Separation,” he said that it is intended to reverse the direction Israel has been heading in under right-wing governments.
By GIL HOFFMANAvi Gabbay (L) at a press conference, February 27th, 2019(photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV)
Labor Party leader Avi Gabbay, who avoided the diplomatic issue until his party fell in the polls, outlined a new diplomatic plan of his party on Wednesday at a press conference at the party’s Tel Aviv headquarters.The plan calls for a regional solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict with relatively moderate Arab countries and the creation of a demilitarized Palestinian state. The plan was purposely announced after US President Donald Trump’s senior adviser Jared Kushner revealed details of the plan that he has been working on for the president.“The Trump plan will be the central diplomatic challenge before the new government that will be formed after the election,” Gabbay said. “This timing is an opportunity to talk about our views and our plan for the most important issues for the future and security of the State of Israel.”Gabbay’s plan is called “Paths to Separation.” He said that it is intended to reverse the direction Israel has been heading in under right-wing governments.“As long as we continue implementing the vision of [New Right leader Naftali] Bennett and building outside the settlement blocs, we are making the problem worse and unilaterally undermining and preventing separation. To stop this dangerous pattern, we promise to have the government define its settlement blocs and stop building outside of them immediately after the next government is formed.” The plan promises that within six months after its formation, the government would begin implementing a defined evacuation-compensation plan for residents of Judea and Samaria who do not live in the settlement blocs.Despite repeated denials from Gabbay, since July 2017 he has favored unilateral withdrawals,. The plan supports such a move as a fallback.“Israel will announce that it would prefer to coordinate its steps with its neighbors and the international community, but say that even without such coordination, it would move forward independently to design its future,“ the plan says.Earlier, Gabbay released an advertisement in which he attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on economic issues and said that his only economic experience was working for a furniture company that went bankrupt.
