Israeli Prime Minister Publicly Rejects Calls For A Palestinian State

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticised the US desire for a Palestinian state after the Gaza conflict is resolved.

In a press conference, Netanyahu vowed to continue the offensive in Gaza “until complete victory,” the destruction of Hamas, and the return of the remaining Israeli hostages, adding that it could take “many more months”.

With nearly 25,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and 85% of the strip’s population displaced, Israel is under great pressure to halt its offensive and engage in real talks about a long-term settlement to the conflict.

Israel’s supporters, including the United States, and its enemies have encouraged the resuscitation of the long-dormant “two-state solution,” in which a future Palestinian state would coexist with an Israeli one.

Many people hope that the current crisis will push the warring parties to return to negotiation, which is the only feasible alternative to continuous cycles of warfare.

During Thursday’s news conference, he stated that Israel must have security authority over all land west of the Jordan River, including the territory of any future Palestinian state.

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“This is a necessary condition, and it conflicts with the idea of (Palestinian) sovereignty. What to do? I tell this truth to our American friends, and I also stopped the attempt to impose a reality on us that would harm Israel’s security,” he said.

Netanyahu has spent much of his political career opposed to Palestinian statehood, bragging last month that he was happy to have prevented its establishment.

However, Israel’s public repudiation of Washington’s counsel, as well as its determination to stay on its current military course, may exacerbate difficulties with its Western friends.

Since the bloodiest attacks in Israel’s history on October 7, when Hamas militants killed over 1,300 Israelis and kidnapped approximately 240, the United States has supported Israel’s right to self-defence.

In response to Netanyahu’s new remarks, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan stated that the US would continue to strive towards a two-state solution, adding that there would be “no reoccupation of Gaza.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli