Archives: Rabin: Palestinian State = Destruction of Israel

Aaron Lerner Date: 27 December 2003

Although Labor and the Likud differ in their views on the solution to the
Palestinian question, we both oppose in the strongest terms the creation of
a Palestinian "mini-state" in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, first and
foremost because it cannot solve anything. It certainly will not be able to
absorb the almost million and a half Palestinians who currently reside
beyond these two areas; and just as surely it will be ruled by the most
extreme faction in the Palestinian political spectrum - the PLO. Such
"internal" Palestinian politics might not be any of Israel's business were
it not for the fact that the leaders of the PLO have declared - and I
believe them - that they view such a "mini-state" as but the first phase in
the achievement of their so-called secular, democratic Palestine, to be
built on the ruins of the State of Israel once all the Jews who arrived
after 1917 (or, with slight modification, after 1948) have been expelled.
Given that scenario, there is little wonder that the overwhelming majority
of Israelis are so strongly opposed to this "option." And though attitudes
have changed before and may very well change again in the next few years, I
doubt that my countrymen are likely to mellow toward the prospect of their
own destruction."

Yitzhak Rabin, The Rabin Memoirs 1979, page 334