Knesset member Ephraim Sneh said this week that the only solution to Israel’s ongoing dispute with the Palestinians is a two-state solution. He said he would fight against the “disaster” of remaining a single state with a large Arab minority.


Ephraim Sneh M.D. is an active member of the Labor party in the Israeli Knesset. He strongly supports the efforts being made by the Israeli government to negotiate a settlement with the Palestinian Authority to form a second state inside the borders of Israel proper. In addressing a large number of foreign reporters this week in Jerusalem he said that a one state solution is inconceivable.


He referred to the upcoming Annapolis, Maryland meeting as the beginning of negotiations with the Palestinian leadership. He stated that if these negotiations failed to produce the basis for a two state solution there may not be another chance for peace. According to Dr. Sneh, if the PA leadership does not produce results in a peaceful manner at the Annapolis conference, the populace would most likely view PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas as weak. Hamas would expand and claim that only violence works against Israel which would lead to a new wave of terror and loss of Israeli life.

MK Sneh said that a one state solution with a large dissident Arab population living as "Class B citizens" is unacceptable. He stated that he did not want to live in a single Israeli state with 45% of the population being discontented Arabs. He further commented that his goal is to produce a democratic Jewish state with a clear Jewish majority. He declared emphatically "for me the only option is a two state solution."

He went on to say that even if the second created state became a Hamas state he would still prefer this scenario over remaining a single state. He also acknowledged that if Hamas launched attacks against Israel from a newly created state that Israel would indeed be forced to fight. This fight would no doubt bring suffering to both the state of Israel and the newly created Palestinian state, yet this is more acceptable to MK Sneh than trying to control a large disgruntled Arab population within the current borders of Israel.

"If there is no two-state solution there is a danger of [remaining a] one state solution and too many people advocate it. This is something we should prevent. So for me the only option is a two-state solution. And I will fight against all other options." - MK Ephraim Sneh

According to Labor party Knesset Member, Dr. Ephraim Sneh, Israel should "preempt and forestall (further violence) by going quickly to a two-state solution." He concluded by saying that during the Annapolis conference Israel should do everything possible to prevent remaining a single state.