Top Israeli ministers reject Palestinian statehood post-war
4 Min Read
Bezalel Smotrich vowed to convene with the security cabinet later Thursday to take a "clear position against Palestinian statehood."
-
Bezalel Smotrich addresses the Israeli Knesset in occupied Al-Quds on March 27, 2023 (AP)
Top ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration rejected Palestinian statehood on Thursday, citing a Washington Post story that Israel's major ally, the United States, was pushing preparations to form a Palestinian state.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that in "no way" would the occupying forces agree to the statehood, which according to him "says Palestinians deserve a prize for the terrible massacre they carried out against us."
The Palestinians Smotrich is referring to, are the 28,663 murdered men, women, and children killed at the hands of "Israel."
He called a Palestinian state an "existential threat" to the Israeli occupation, citing he would convene with the security cabinet later Thursday to take a "clear position against Palestinian statehood."
Smotrich in late January made similar remarks, telling the US to "wise up" about any chance of a Palestinian state.
A Washington Post report Thursday indicated the US is working with some Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, on a post-war plan for the region's future that includes a firm timetable for the creation of a Palestinian state.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that any diplomatic endeavor that did not begin with a Palestinian state becoming an official member of the United Nations was "doomed to fail."
Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, so-called Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, Education Minister Yoav Kisch, and MP Matan Kahana, a member of the National Unity Party led by primary Netanyahu opponent Benny Gantz, all made separate statements echoing Smotrich's.
Chikli told Army Radio that any statehood would be a "catastrophe."
Netanyahu has reiterated his uncompromising position against Palestinian statehood and his control over the occupied West Bank.
No ties with 'Israel' without Palestinian State recognition: Riyadh
Last week, the Saudi Foreign Ministry stated that Saudi Arabia will establish diplomatic relations with "Israel" only if a Palestinian state is recognized within its 1967 borders with the eastern part of al-Quds as its capital and the aggression on the Gaza Strip is ended.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and "Israel" would depend on ending the war in the Gaza Strip and a clear path to establishing a Palestinian state. Earlier, he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Riyadh.
Two senior regional sources informed Reuters that Saudi officials have told their US counterparts that Riyadh is willing, in exchange for normalization with "Israel", to accept "a political commitment from Israel towards a two-state solution" without having the occupation take any concrete steps.
This is partly because Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is demanding, as part of the normalization package, a treaty that provides security guarantees similar to NATO for Saudi Arabia.
Given that it is an election year in the United States, according to the newspaper, the deal is likely to receive Senate approval by June, and if delayed beyond that, it might be buried under election campaign policies.
In late January, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken requested the State Department to conduct a review and propose policy options on possible US and international recognition of a Palestinian state.
One senior US official described to Axios that some in the current administration may be willing to accept that a Palestinian state is the stepping stone to end the war for good.
This may be done through various ways like allowing the UN Security Council to admit Palestine as a UN member, bilaterally recognizing the state, or encouraging other nations to recognize the Palestinian state.
