Netanyahu rejects Palestine State idea two days after US proposal at UN – Firstpost

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he would oppose any efforts to establish a Palestinian state. The Israeli prime minister’s comments come a day before the UN Security Council plans to vote on a US-drafted resolution on Gaza that leaves the door open to Palestinian independence.

For the longest time, Netanyahu has claimed that creating the state of Palestine would reward Hamas and ultimately lead to an even larger Hamas-run state on Israel’s borders. However, as the US pushes for an end to the Gaza war, the Israeli Prime Minister faces immense international pressure to show some flexibility on the matter.

The UNSC is due to vote on a US resolution for a UN mandate that would establish an international stabilization force in Gaza despite opposition from Russia, China and some Arab countries. On Sunday, Hamas and Palestinians warned that the US proposal was an attempt to impose an international mandate on Gaza, which is biased towards Israel.

He argued that the resolution denies Palestinians the right to manage their own affairs. In a statement, the groups said the force should not include Israel and should be under direct UN supervision.

What did Netanyahu say on the matter?

according to reutersThe 20-point plan proposed by US President Donald Trump included a clause stating that if reforms occur within the Palestinian Authority, “the conditions could eventually be created for a credible path to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of the Palestinian people”.

However, this clause was opposed by far-right ministers in Israel. On Saturday, Israeli far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich demanded that Netanyahu condemn the Palestinian state proposal. According to Reuters, Ben-Gvir also threatened to leave the ruling coalition if the prime minister did not take action.

Amid the backlash, Netanyahu issued a statement on Sunday saying, “Our opposition to Palestinian statehood in any territory has not changed. Gaza will be demilitarized and Hamas will be disarmed, the easy way or the hard way. I do not need confirmation, tweets or lectures from anyone.” Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also issued statements on Sunday against Palestinian statehood.

International pressure for Palestinian statehood increased in September after Britain, Australia and Canada formally recognized Palestinian statehood. Netanyahu criticized countries for “rewarding” Hamas. The Israeli Prime Minister is also facing immense international pressure over the attacks by settlers in the West Bank. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how the UNSC will vote on this matter.