A. B. Yehoshua
Novelist and public intellectual (1936–2022)
1 change of mind on record, 2001–2021
How this works
Each change shows what they said then and what they said later, in their own words, dated, with the source.
Every quote is checked word for word against a saved copy of its source. Translations are labelled.
The short labels on each line are our summaries.
At a glance
first said said otherwise
Two states or one
Then
Separate, with a border
With no final agreement possible for now, the only solution is unilateral separation: evacuate 40 to 50 settlements and build a border with crossings.
"הפתרון היחיד האפשרי כעת הוא הפרדה חד צדדית, תוך פינוי 40 עד 50 התנחלויות ובניית גבול עם מעברים. הפרדה כזו תקל מאוד על סבל הפלסטינים, ותוריד את רמת האלימות."
Our translation The only possible solution now is unilateral separation, evacuating 40 to 50 settlements and building a border with crossings. Such separation would greatly ease the suffering of the Palestinians and lower the level of violence.
Source השמאל, קווים לגימגומו (ynet) (as reported by ynet.co.il)
15 years, 3 months later
Later
Open to a federation plan
At a Meretz memorial conference he says the left cannot stay in what he calls the mental freeze around two states, and that a federation plan, including citizenship for the Palestinians of the West Bank, should at least be discussed and kept in a drawer.
"הייתי בכנס של תנועת הפדרציה בירושלים וראיתי איך אנשים מדברים לעומק ובצורה מעשית ומדסקסים את הפרטים. צריך לדבר על התוכנית הזאת, שלפחות תהיה במגירה"
Our translation I was at a conference of the federation movement in Jerusalem and saw how people talk in depth and practically and discuss the details. This plan should be talked about, so that at least it is in the drawer
Source א.ב. יהושע "הקפיץ" את זהבה גלאון (ערוץ 7) (as reported by inn.co.il)
5 months later
Later
Else one state, equal rights
If the settlements cannot be removed and no agreed border reached, Israel should give the Palestinians citizenship as fully equal citizens.
"ואם אי אפשר להוריד את ההתנחלויות ולהגיע לאיזה גבול מסוכם, אז לתת להם אזרחות בתוך המדינה שלנו. יש לנו מספיק כוח ומספיק כסף כדי לשלב אותם כאזרחים שווי זכויות מלאים, אם לא תהיה אפשרות עכשיו לחלק את הארץ"
Our translation And if it is impossible to take down the settlements and reach some agreed border, then give them citizenship inside our state. We have enough strength and enough money to integrate them as citizens with full equal rights, if there is no possibility now to divide the land.
Source ראיון עם א״ב יהושע (אלעד זרט, ynet) (as reported by ynet.co.il)
3 years, 11 months later
Latest
One state, no alternative
After fifty years of working for two states, he says that solution is not feasible, because of the settlements and because of the Palestinians, and that there is no alternative to one state.
"הוא אינו ישים גם בגלל ההתנחלויות וגם בגלל הפלסטינים ואין מנוס מפתרון המדינה האחת"
Our translation It is not feasible, both because of the settlements and because of the Palestinians, and there is no escaping the one-state solution.
Source א.ב. יהושע: "אין מנוס מפתרון המדינה האחת" (ועידת "עם עולם" של מקור ראשון, ערוץ 7) (as reported by inn.co.il)