Israeli prime minister says two-state solution is ‘right thing’ for Israel’s security, economy, children’s future

By Said Amouri

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said Thursday that a two-state solution is the "right thing" for Israel's security, provided that Palestinians lay down their arms.

The remarks were made in a speech before the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

"An agreement with the Palestinians based on two states for two peoples, is the right thing for Israel’s security, for Israel’s economy and for the future of our children,” he said. “We have only one condition: That a future Palestinian state will be a peaceful one.”

Lapid spoke directly to the Palestinians and said: "Put down your weapons and prove that Hamas and Islamic Jihad are not going to take over the Palestinian state you want to create. Put down your weapons, and there will be peace.”

He then criticized Iran and reiterated that "the only way to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, is to put a credible military threat on the table.”

“There is only one member-state in the UN that openly states its wish to destroy another member-state. Iran has declared time and time again that it is interested in the total destruction of the State of Israel,” he said.

Lapid urged more Arab nations to normalize relations with Israel and to join the Abraham Accords – normalization agreements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain that were brokered by the US.

* Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report