Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly informed the White House that he opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of any post-war scenario, underscoring the deep divisions between the close allies three months into Israel’s assault on Gaza that aims to eliminate the territory’s Hamas rulers.
The U.S. has called on Israel to scale back its offensive and said that the establishment of a Palestinian state should be part of the “day after.” But in a nationally broadcast news conference on Thursday, Netanyahu vowed to press ahead with the offensive until Israel realizes a “decisive victory over Hamas.” He also rejected the idea of Palestinian statehood.
Netanyahu, who leads a far-right government opposed to Palestinian statehood, repeated his longstanding opposition to a two-state solution. He said a Palestinian state would become a launching pad for attacks on Israel. He said Israel “must have security control over the entire territory west of the Jordan River,” adding: “That collides with the idea of sovereignty. What can we do?”
“This truth I tell to our American friends, and I put the brakes on the attempt to coerce us to a reality that would endanger the state of Israel,” he said.
Netanyahu said he had relayed his positions to the Americans. “The prime minister needs to be capable of saying no to our friends,” he added.
Netanyahu’s comments came amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has entered its third month with no sign of a lasting ceasefire.
According to the Associated Press, more than 24,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 2 million displaced by Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, which has also caused widespread damage to infrastructure, health facilities, and schools.
According to Israeli officials, about 1,200 Israelis have been killed and thousands injured by Hamas’ rocket attacks, which have also targeted civilian areas and critical facilities.
The conflict was triggered by an unprecedented cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, which killed roughly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 240 people hostage in Gaza. Israel says that 132 hostages are still in Gaza, of whom 105 are alive and 27 are dead.
Israel considers those declared dead to still be hostages, and has vowed to bring them back home. Israel has also accused Hamas of using the hostages as human shields and bargaining chips, and has rejected any negotiations or concessions for their release.
Hamas has denied holding any hostages, and has accused Israel of lying and fabricating evidence. Hamas has also demanded an end to the Israeli siege and aggression on Gaza, and the lifting of the blockade and the sanctions on the enclave, as preconditions for any ceasefire or dialogue.
The conflict has also sparked protests and violence in the West Bank, Israel, and other countries, and has raised regional and international tensions.
The conflict has also triggered a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than 1.9 million people are facing shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel, and where the health system is on the verge of collapse due to the Israeli bombardment and the Covid-19 pandemic.
US Asked for Restraint
The U.S. has expressed its support for Israel’s right to self-defense and its opposition to Hamas’ rocket attacks, while also calling for Israel to exercise restraint and to avoid civilian casualties.
The U.S. has also pledged to provide $360 million in humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, including $150 million to the UN agency that assists the refugees in Gaza and the West Bank.
The U.S. has also expressed its commitment to helping the parties resume the negotiations for a two-state solution that would end the occupation and the conflict, and that would ensure the security and the dignity of both Israelis and Palestinians.
However, the U.S. has faced difficulties and challenges in its diplomatic efforts, as it has been unable to persuade Israel to halt its offensive or to agree to a ceasefire, and as it has been met with resistance and criticism from some of its allies and partners in the region, who have expressed frustration and anger over the U.S. stance on the conflict and its engagement with Iran.
The U.S. has also faced opposition and obstruction from the UN Security Council, where it has vetoed several resolutions calling for a humanitarian ceasefire and condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The U.S. has also faced pressure and expectations from the international community and the public opinion, who have urged the U.S. to play a more active and effective role in ending the conflict and in addressing the humanitarian needs in Gaza.
The U.S. has also faced questions and doubts about its credibility and influence as a leader and a mediator in the Middle East, and about its values and interests as a democracy and a human rights defender.
The conflict has exposed the deep rifts and the complex dynamics that characterize the U.S.-Israel relationship, which is often described as “unbreakable” and “special”, but which is also marked by disagreements and tensions over various issues and policies.
The conflict has also tested the will and the wisdom of the U.S. and Israel, as they face the consequences and the implications of their actions and decisions, and as they seek to achieve their goals and to protect their interests.
The conflict has also challenged the hopes and the aspirations of the U.S. and Israel, as they strive to secure their peace and security, and to advance their vision and values.
