Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party and a prominent contender in Israel’s election landscape, has dismissed the feasibility of a two-state solution in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Meanwhile, he has voiced strong criticism against the government’s contentious E1 settlement plan in the West Bank. He argues that backing a two-state resolution is impractical post-attack but labels the E1 expansion as a strategic error that could undermine Israel’s standing in the global arena.
The E1 settlement plan, which aims to extend developments between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim, has the potential to disrupt the territorial continuity between key Palestinian population zones. Recent government actions have included opening a tender for over 1,000 housing units in the E1 region, drawing widespread international disapproval. Notably, the European Union is reportedly contemplating measures against Israel should the construction advance.
Eisenkot’s statements arrive amid heightened tensions as he also targets Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir for their roles in exacerbating settler violence in the West Bank. He contends that their approach has not only reduced the effectiveness of the Israel Defense Forces’ control but is also damaging Israel’s legitimacy on the international stage and its broader national interests.
In response to Eisenkot’s critiques, Smotrich has defended the E1 construction initiative, asserting that it is crucial to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state close to Jerusalem. This stance highlights the deep-seated divisions within Israeli politics regarding settlement policies and the path to regional peace.