Was the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan fundamentally wrong? Jair Lapid doesn’t believe this, but sees errors in the implementation.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Jair Lapid does not see the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan as a sign of an end to the influence of the powerful ally in the region.
“The US is looking for new ways to influence things,” Lapid told foreign journalists in Jerusalem on Wednesday. “I don’t think they are withdrawing from the Middle East.”
Regarding the nature of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, however, Lapid said: “It was probably the right decision that was not implemented in the right way.” Israel continues to adhere to the principle «that we defend ourselves», affirmed the foreign minister. “You can’t expect others to do this job – it has been proven time and time again.”
Regarding Israel’s relations with the Palestinians, Lapid said he was personally a “staunch supporter of the two-state solution.” This provides for an independent Palestinian state that exists peacefully side by side with Israel. However, it is currently not possible to implement this vision, said Lapid. Israel’s new government must focus on solving internal problems in the coming years. The reality on the Palestinian side also prevents the possibility of a breakthrough.
For this reason, efforts are currently only being made to improve the living conditions of the Palestinians, said Lapid. “We have to make sure that we don’t do anything that harms the prospect of returning to the negotiating table in the future.”
The biggest security threats to Israel remain the Iranian nuclear program and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, said Lapid. In the face of failed negotiations, the world needs a “Plan B” vis-à-vis Tehran, he demanded.
He has already seen an improvement in communication since Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s most recent meeting with US President Joe Biden, Lapid also said. Israel’s relations with the European Union, its most important trading partner, have also improved under the new government.
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