In a candid and assertive interview with Geeta Mohan, Executive Editor at India Today, Dr. Einat Wilf, former Israeli Member of Parliament, shared her perspectives on the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, Trump’s Gaza Riviera plan, and the possibility of Palestinian statehood.
Addressing former U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial 'Gaza Riviera Plan', Dr. Wilf expressed a vision for Gaza’s untapped potential. "Gaza has the potential to become the Dubai, the pearl of the Mediterranean," she said. However, she argued that the people of Gaza have chosen a different path. "They’ve turned the land into an integrated, weaponized landscape. So many homes are connected by tunnels. They are against the Jewish people," she claimed.
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Dr. Wilf criticized what she described as the lack of accountability for Palestinian actions. "Whenever the Arabs invade Israel, they attack and fail, and then they demand a redo with no payment in reparation. Gazans demand to have no consequences for October 7. Thus, Trump reminded them that there will be consequences," she asserted.
When asked about the two-state solution and the possibility of Palestinian statehood, Dr. Wilf pointed to missed opportunities. "This is a movement for independence that has repeatedly walked away from opportunities through violence," she said. "Britain and France created so many Arab countries but failed to create a Jewish state. Israel has agreed to a two-state solution, but the Arabs and Palestinians have repeatedly rejected it. They never want a state living next to a Jewish state."
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Reflecting on the events of October 7, Dr. Wilf described it as a dark day of sheer brutality and attributed the attacks to a perverted vision driven by ideology. "These are not incapable people. What happened on October 7 was carried out in the name of a horrific ideology," she added.
In response to questions about Israeli restrictions on Palestinians, Dr. Wilf defended the existence of security measures like checkpoints. "Why are there checkpoints? Because people from the West Bank and Gaza have blown up Israeli cafes and buses. The checkpoints are there to prevent it," she explained.
Acknowledging the presence of extremists on both sides, Dr. Wilf argued that Palestinian intransigence is bolstered by international support. "Palestinians refuse to compromise because they have the backing of the Muslim world," she stated. "Ask Palestinians if they want to live beside a Jewish state and not say 'from the river to the sea'."
Concluding the interview, Dr. Wilf emphasized that long-term peace requires a fundamental shift in ideology. "The ideology of destruction of the Jewish state must die for any lasting peace," she declared.
Dr. Wilf’s remarks offered a stark and unapologetic defense of Israel’s policies and actions, framing them as necessary measures for security and survival.
Published By:
indiatodayglobal
Published On:
Mar 7, 2025