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Edited by: Fern Sidman
Israel has publicly rebuffed the possibility of progressing towards a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including any proposals put forth by the United States. According to a recently published Jerusalem Post report, the rejection comes at a time when Israel is actively engaged in military operations against Hamas terrorists in Gaza, following the October 7th massacre in which 1200 Israelis and others were brutally massacred by Hamas terrorists and 240 people were taken as hostages by the terror group. This stance, articulated by government spokesperson Avi Hyman, underscores Israel’s commitment to addressing immediate security concerns before engaging in discussions about the future political landscape.
Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem, Hyman categorically rejected the notion of advancing any two-state resolution while the country is focused on combating the genocidal threat posed by Hamas, as was reported by the JPost.
Hyman’s remarks followed a report in The Washington Post, revealing that the United States and its Arab allies were formulating a plan for a two-state resolution based on a clear timeline. The JPost report indicated that the proposal aimed to be unveiled in the weeks leading up to the Ramadan holiday, starting on March 10. Israel vehemently opposed such a move, with Hyman stating that it would be akin to rewarding Hamas for the October 7 attack.
“Now is not the time to be speaking about gifts for the Palestinian people, at a time when the PA itself has yet even to condemn the October 7 massacre,” Hyman asserted, adding that discussions about the Palestinian state should only occur after the complete defeat of Hamas, according to information in the JPost report.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich expressed his intention to request the security cabinet to issue a declaration against a Palestinian state during a planned meeting. The report in the JPost said that Smotrich adamantly rejected the proposed plan, contending that it essentially rewards the Palestinians for a “terrible massacre.” He stressed that a Palestinian state, especially with Jerusalem as its capital, poses an existential threat to Israel.
Smotrich called for a decisive decision from the security cabinet against the establishment of a Palestinian state and the imposition of sanctions on over half a million settlers, the JPost report added. He expected clear support from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, and other ministers.
The reported plan involves collaboration with Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Notably, Saudi Arabia and Qatar do not currently have diplomatic relations with Israel. The involvement of these regional players signifies a broader attempt to garner support for a resolution, but Israel’s strong rejection signals the complexity of regional dynamics.
The Biden administration is actively pursuing efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia as part of a broader security pact with Riyadh. This initiative aims to address regional stability and foster collaboration among key Middle Eastern nations. However, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has insisted that any normalization agreement must include the establishment of Palestinian statehood. This condition sets the stage for a complex diplomatic landscape, as the Biden administration navigates intricate relationships in the region.
Labor Party leader MK Merav Michaeli has voiced her support for the Biden administration’s initiative, attributing the underlying issues to the existing Israeli government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The JPost reported that Michaeli criticized what she deemed the government’s “constant refusal to seek a solution, arrogance, racism, and bullying,” placing blame on these factors for the events of October 7. She commended President Joe Biden’s proposal as the only viable solution to break the cycle of violence, offering security, peace, and the potential for a better future for all involved.
Michaeli warned against Netanyahu’s continued opposition to a deal, emphasizing that refusal under pressure from what she described as dangerous partners could lead to unilateral moves, including the imposition of a Palestinian state, as was noted in the JPost report. Such actions, she cautioned, could further isolate Israel on the international stage, turning it into a pariah state. The Labor Party leader stressed the urgency of accepting Biden’s proposal to rebuild from the aftermath of the October 7 disaster.
The Washington Post recently reported on these diplomatic maneuvers at a crucial time when top diplomats, politicians, and leaders were expected to convene in Munich for a security conference. The report in the JPost said that the attendees included Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The report highlighted the aspiration to utilize diplomatic opportunities, potentially arising from a pause in the Israel-Hamas war through a hostage deal, to propose a two-state resolution.
The Washington Post report outlined concerns among U.S. and Arab officials that the failure to secure a hostage deal might hinder the creation of diplomatic space for a two-state plan. A potential IDF military operation in Rafah was identified as a factor that could generate anti-Israel sentiments and impede the progress of a two-state solution. Despite these challenges, President Biden and King Abdullah of Jordan emphasized the urgency and importance of pursuing a two-state resolution during their recent meeting at the White House.
During a meeting at the White House, Biden and Abdullah reaffirmed their commitment to advancing a two-state resolution as a pathway to peace in the region. The JPost reported that at a joint press conference, Biden emphasized the urgency of this endeavor, particularly in light of recent escalations in violence. He stressed the need for integration in the region and expressed determination to bring about peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors, including the establishment of a Palestinian state.
King Abdullah echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the collective responsibility to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and commence efforts towards a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution. The report in the JPost said that he outlined the parameters of this solution, advocating for an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, coexisting peacefully alongside Israel.
In contrast, Prime Minister Netanyahu has voiced strong opposition to Palestinian statehood, particularly in its entirety encompassing Gaza and the Judea and Samaria region. Netanyahu’s stance emphasized the importance of security control in these areas, the retention of Israeli settlements in the liberated lands of Judea and Samaria and the unity of Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty, as was pointed out in the JPost report. He has articulated concerns about the potential threats posed by a sovereign Palestinian state, including the possibility of military alliances with hostile actors such as Iran and the perpetuation of anti-Israeli sentiments.
“Everybody who talks about a two-state solution — well, I ask, what do you mean by that?” Netanyahu said Sunday on ABC News’s “This Week.” “Should the Palestinians have an army? … Should they continue to educate their children for terrorism and annihilation? Of course, I say, of course not.”
Netanyahu’s apprehension stems from the perceived ramifications of U.S. recognition of a Palestinian state, particularly in light of historical American policy advocating for direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine as the pathway to statehood, as was recently reported on the Axios.com web site. Any departure from this longstanding policy would mark a significant shift in the U.S.’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, potentially exerting pressure on Israel to acquiesce to a Palestinian state without comprehensive negotiations, the report added.
Netanyahu’s skepticism extends to the practical implications of a two-state solution, questioning the feasibility of granting Palestinians certain powers without compromising Israeli security. The report said that he highlighted issues such as the establishment of a Palestinian army, potential military pacts with adversaries, and the perpetuation of anti-Israeli ideologies among Palestinian youth that is taught to them by the Hamas terror group.
Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, said the government should respond by threatening to cancel the Oslo Accords, the 1990s agreement that led to the creation of the Palestinian Authority, as was reported by the Times of Israel.
Also on Thursday, reports indicated that Netanyahu’s position was supported by Yisroel Gantz, the head of the Binyamin Council in Israel. Gantz launched a sharp attack on the Biden administration by saying: “Establishing a Palestinian state after the Hamas massacre of October 7th is a moral disgrace and a tremendous danger to the existence of Israel. It is unacceptable that Israel’s ally would give a reward and a shot of encouragement to the murderers of women and children who rose to destroy the state of Israel. The Israeli government must absolutely announce that it rejects and opposes the move.”
“After October 7 it is clearer than ever that it is forbidden to give them a state. While we are in the government, no Palestinian state will be established,” National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said in reaction to the Post report, according to the Ynet news site. He called the proposal “delusional,” accusing Washington and others involved of trying to “establish a terror state alongside the State of Israel,” according to the Times of Israel.
