Former minister of several portfolios in Israel, considered the architect of the Oslo Accords in the 90s and a reference when talking about the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians, Yossi Beilin (Petaj Tikva, 1948) receives this newspaper at his home in the north of Tel Aviv, in a new neighborhood where tranquility reigns, white dominates and Gaza seems very far away. He believes that with Hamas there is no way out but war. But he sees his end.
For Israel, there is no alternative to war in Gaza?
The other option is to tell Hamas not to cause a situation where their brothers are killed in large numbers. Let them leave wherever they are and not govern Gaza because this is something that Israel cannot accept whether it is left, right, center or whatever. Arafat left Lebanon and went to Tunisia. They can live wherever they want and others will rule in Gaza. I think it should be the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) or the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Arab countries. Hopefully not Israel itself.
Is any peace commitment inconceivable if it includes Hamas?
It can be said that they are a part of our region and cannot be ignored, but if they cannot accept our existence, neither can Israel in Gaza. I am not in a position to say that everyone who supported Hamas is someone we can never talk to, but they are not at this point today and any commitment to them means that they will continue to rule Gaza in one form or another. I cannot accept it any more than I can accept a unity government with Fatah [party that leads the ANP] like in 2006.
But is it possible to end Hamas as Netanyahu advocates today?
It is impossible to eradicate Hamas. It's not serious to say something like that. But we can't sit together and come to an agreement like we did with the PLO about land, numbers or whatever. They do not want to talk to us or accept our existence in the region. It seems the only way is to fight them. It's crazy, it's medieval, I hate myself for saying it, but someone tell me what to do otherwise. I don't see any other option.
Hamas is not wanted but the government also rejects the ANP leaders. So who do you think of for post-Hamas Gaza, if there is one?
Netanyahu is not crazy, he asks some crazy people to join his family but these people will not dominate politics after the war and the war will not last forever. It is a matter of weeks before the reservists return home. Even if they see it necessary to go ahead and clean the area or whatever, that is no longer a war. Once it happens, I think people will take to the streets and it will be the end of it. They will not be able to continue. Do they say no to the ANP? I don't take it seriously. In the end the Palestinians will rule the Palestinians, it will not be us or the others. And National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi recently published it in an article and he is today one of those closest to Netanyahu. It means a lot.
Will the end of the war be in just weeks?
In the government they are not enthusiastic, but they will understand that they have to do it and they will have American help. The war cannot continue forever. It's a matter of weeks. Small forces may continue, perhaps, to deal with the remnants of Hamas or whatever, but it will not be war. The war will end very soon.
Palestinian polls show that support for Hamas is growing in the West Bank. Is another front opening?
The hatred between both parties has been increasing since October 7. I hope it won't be too long before it fades away.
The whole world is talking about the two-state solution, although no progress is seen.
Joe Biden talks about it from morning to night. And he's not an idiot. He knows the material there is.
Is it the only way to find a solution?
It is the only way that Israel has to demonstrate that it is a Jewish and democratic state and it is essential because otherwise in a short time there will be a majority of Palestinians governed by a minority of Jews and this would be the end. It is imperative that Palestinians fulfill their right to self-determination. Historically, furthermore, it is after wars that peace is made and that is why I see it as possible to make peace.
The conflict always returns since the beginning of the State of Israel 75 years ago. Time not helping?
Other leaders believe in the partition of the land and that the Palestinian Authority is reasonable. [Defense Minister] Benny Gantz invited Abu Mazen to his house a few years ago. It wouldn't take much more than a year or a year and a half to finish the negotiations, we know all the solutions.
And are all solutions still feasible in the current context?
Most things, like the future of Jerusalem and the border, are in the Geneva initiative, the only detailed agreement signed by Palestinians and Israelis. But if in the past the main issue was Jerusalem or refugees or both, for those who today want to make peace in Israel the biggest challenge is the number of settlers. When the agreement was signed in Oslo there were 90,000 settlers in the West Bank, not counting the Eastern Jews. Today there are half a million. Talking about evacuating half a million people is not realistic.
So?
We have worked on the concept of the Israeli-Palestinian confederation, which would be flexible, with sovereign, independent countries, but developing closeness with each other so that whoever prefers to stay where they are, even if it is in a Palestinian State, has the right to do so while preserving his Israeli citizenship and becoming a permanent resident of Palestine, respecting its rules. And the same for the Palestinians in Israel. I believe that if this is approved, the main issue will be resolved. That is why I see the viability of making peace although now the support for the process on both sides is less. If there is a need on both sides, there is a possibility.
Does the escalation of war on the Lebanese border complicate it?
The end of the war with Hamas will also be the end of the other fronts. Or so I hope. With Hizbullah the main issue is to push back its command on the border, and I think there is a possibility that this will happen as a result of political, diplomatic activity, not a military confrontation.
