Israeli officials and analysts agree – in their discussions of the repercussions of the war on the Gaza Strip – in their rejection of the establishment of a Palestinian state, in a position identical to the position of their Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who contradicted the American desire in this context.
Gideon Sa’ar, a minister in the War Council, spoke of his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state, saying, “It is not possible to establish a demilitarized Palestinian state unless Israel has security control, as it does in the West Bank and intends to do in the Gaza Strip.”
He added in a discussion session on Israeli Channel 14, “The lands that we hand over to the Palestinians will become a base for aggression against Israel.” The minister revealed that when he took the decision to unite between his “New Hope” party and the “Blue and White” party led by Benny Gantz, they had a clear agreement to reject the establishment of a state. Palestinian.
According to Michael Sheams, a political affairs correspondent for Channel 11, the Prime Minister is using the story of the Palestinian state as a kind of political campaign, stressing that large sectors of Israelis oppose the establishment of this state.
Gil Tamari, Channel 13’s international news editor, explained that US President Joe Biden bypasses Netanyahu, and directly tells the Israeli public, “I’m offering you a dream plan,” which means, “You get a big reward now and you pay the price at some point in the future.”
He added, “What is the return? Complete normalization with Saudi Arabia and 6 additional Muslim countries, and an unprecedented security umbrella that Israel will enjoy? The price will be a declaration of intent that will lead to a future path to the establishment of a Palestinian state that will be demilitarized and without an army.”
He commented, saying, “This is what the Americans are proposing to the Israeli public because they realize that Netanyahu is not a partner.”
As for the journalist on Channel 12, he believed that even if Gantz (a minister in the War Council) became prime minister, it would be difficult for him to provide the American president with a response other than that offered by Netanyahu, which is that “the chances of establishing a Palestinian state are non-existent.”
Netanyahu had previously revealed that he had informed the United States of his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state “within the framework of any post-war scenario” in Gaza, contrary to the American desire.
