In response to a recent report by The Washington Post suggesting the United States’ intention to push for the establishment of a Palestinian state, top ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have firmly rejected the proposal.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that the plan, which includes a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, is unacceptable, emphasizing that such a state poses an existential threat to Israel. He intends to urge the security cabinet, scheduled to convene later, to take a clear position against Palestinian statehood.
The Washington Post reported that the US is working with several Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, on a post-war plan for the region, featuring a defined timeline for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserted that any political initiative not commencing with the recognition of a Palestinian state as a full UN member is destined to fail.
Other Israeli officials, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, Education Minister Yoav Kisch, and lawmaker Matan Kahana, expressed similar sentiments, considering the proposal a catastrophe and an undeserved reward for the Palestinians. Chikli emphasized the gravity of the situation, referring to events on Oct. 7, when the latest Gaza war erupted with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israeli towns.
The conflict, ongoing for more than 130 days, has resulted in significant casualties and displacement. While the Palestinian Authority advocates for an end to Israeli occupation and settlement expansion in the West Bank, Israel maintains historical, biblical, and political links to the region, disputing the characterization of settlements as illegal. The complexity of the situation reflects longstanding disagreements between Israel, the Palestinians, and the international community.