In an exclusive interview for i24NEWS-Israel Hayom's joint election special less than 48 hours before Israelis begin casting ballots, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed not to uproot a single Israeli settler from the West Bank, a move he said would be tantamount to "ethnic cleansing."
Netanyahu reiterated his vow that if re-elected, he would extend Israel's sovereignty to settlements in the West Bank, but clarified he has no intention the West Bank in its entirety.
"I did not say I would annex the West Bank, I said I would apply Israeli law to Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria," Netanyahu affirmed.
'I've said time and time again that I would NOT remove a single #Israeli settlement or single Israeli, forcibly— I am against this whole notion of ethnic cleansing,' @netanyahu says to @MichelleMakori: pic.twitter.com/yZ2NUC3ZyW
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) April 7, 2019
"I said time and time again, I will not remove a single Israeli forcibly, I am against ethnic cleansing," he added.
Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected relinquishing Israeli military control over territory west of the Jordan River. Israel maintains full security and administrative control over the West Bank's "Area C," which comprises some 60% of the territory.
The prime minister's remarks were criticized domestically as a ploy to appeal to pro-settlement right-wing voters, and internationally as a threat to the two-state solution.
Many of Netanyahu's right-wing political rivals openly call for the annexation of Area C, where most major Israeli settlement blocs are concentrated, while others call for the application of Israeli sovereignty over the entire West Bank where some 430,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.6 million Palestinians.
On Gaza
Defending his policy in the Gaza Strip, which has come under stark criticism by his political rivals, Netanyahu said that the trio of former generals heading up the main rival Blue and White party -- Benny Gantz, Moshe Ya'alon and Gabi Ashkenazi "did not suggest anything different."
"They have not realized that the main lesson of Gaza is not to repeat it in Judea and Samaria," Netanyahu said, appearing to champion his own ability to respond in a "measured way." He noted that over the last four and a half years, "not a single Israeli was killed."
"I do not wish recreate a 'Hamastan' that is twenty times the size," he said, referring to the 2005 Israeli disengagement from the coastal enclave which, following a rift with Fatah led to Hamas' seizure of power.
'There was a possibility of conquering them [militant #Islamists] — it's a possibility — it would draw a lot blood from our people — it would be very costly, but it's not something I can rule out completely,' says @netanyahu to @MichelleMakori: #IsraElections2019 pic.twitter.com/XTgvLUFjND
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) April 7, 2019
Netanyahu's former coalition was thrown into chaos in November when Avigdor Liberman, who served as defense minister, quit the post and pulled his Yisrael Beytenu party from the government over, citing the premier's policy in Gaza, which has included an agreement to allow millions of dollars of Qatari funding into the enclave in exchange for relative calm on the border.
"There was a possibility of conquering Gaza, but it would draw a lot of blood from our people, but it is not something that I can rule out completely," he said. Netanyahu said he would continue to act "responsibly" even if that meant there would be a political price to pay.
As violence has continued to spill into Israel from Gaza in the form of weekly border riots and rockets and incendiary devices launched across the border, Netanyahu's rivals have accused the long-serving premier of not doing enough to quell tension and abandoning Israeli citizens in the Gaza periphery region.
Pressed on whether he would negotiate with Hamas, Netanyahu clarified that communication with the Islamist organization was "not about a peace deal." He said he would, via proxies, focus on returning captive Israeli citizens, slain soldiers and those who went missing in action in the enclave.
"Israel has to defend itself against any enemy. I don't need international guarantees," he said.
'The first requirement of an Israeli prime minister is to stand up for #Israel — I am so different from the left — I think they think the best way to get #Israel's favor is by bowing your head,' says @netanyahu: #IsraElections2019 pic.twitter.com/ekJ8qu4w13
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) April 7, 2019
The Trump peace plan
As the date for unveiling a long-awaited and widely-anticipated U.S. peace plan draws near, Netanyahu threw his weight behind his American ally. Saying he believes Washington will take Israel's interests into account, Netanyahu said Israel should give U.S. President Donald Trump' so-called "deal of the century" a chance.
"We have to give President Trump a chance. I don't know what will ultimately be presented, but I believe they respect what I have suggested," he said. "My guess is that coming from a friend, they will consider most of what I just said," referring to his refusal to relinquish power west of the Jordan Valley and over a united Jerusalem.
While Netanyahu expressed confidence his staunch American ally would deliver a plan that would align with the interests of the Jewish state and "include everything we want," he noted there was a possibility Israel would reject the offer.
"I hope we don't have to say no," he said.
Trump has previously said that both sides would have to make concessions in any final settlement and that the Israeli government would "pay a higher price" in return for his administration's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's official capital and the relocation of the U.S. embassy there.
'We've never had a friend greater than President @realDonaldTrump,' explains @netanyahu: #IsraElections2019 pic.twitter.com/EawSH1BzKN
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) April 7, 2019
Touting his leadership capabilities, Netanyahu emphasized the importance of having an Israeli prime minister who is able to stand up to international pressure.
"If you can't say no, then you become a little province in the corner of Asia," he said, drawing a comparison between himself and his main election rival Gantz, whom Netanyahu said was "incapable."
The U.S. peace plan is expected to be released immediately after Israelis go to the polls on Tuesday.
This article was originally published by i24NEWS. Read more at https://www.i24news.tv/en.
