Gantz: Israel Won't Withdraw to Pre-1967 Borders

Israel's Defense Minister and alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz said Thursday that they will not withdraw to pre-1967 borders. 

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Gantz tackled a multitude of questions about peace in the Middle East and revealed that he had already been to a majority of Arab states with clandestine visits as part of his military service and said he would love to go on an official tour.

“I spent about 38 years fighting in the Israeli army. And believe me, the generals in the army, who have seen and experienced the horrors of war, are the ones who want peace the most,” said Israel's alternate prime minister.

On the issue of Jerusalem, Gantz stressed that “The city must remain unpided.”

He, however, noted that there will be room for a Palestinian capital.

“Jerusalem must stay united, but it will have place for a Palestinian capital,” he said. “It's a vast city, filled with sites that are holy to all of us.”

The centrist leader added that Israel will not withdraw to pre-1967 borders but the sides can reach a compromise.

He warned against what he called the "Iranian axis" in the region, saying it posed a threat for both Israel and Arab states and pointing at countries like Syria and Lebanon as examples of its corruptive influence.