Unusual confrontation between US and Israel after Netanyahu’s public rejection of a future Palestinian state

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that he had warned the United States over opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state after the conflict in Gaza ends.

At a press conference, an unfazed Netanyahu backed the offensive until a “total victory” was achieved in Gaza: the destruction of Hamas and the return of abductees captured in the October 7 offensive.

“This could take several months,” he said.

With nearly 25,000 Palestinians dead In the Strip, according to the health ministry coordinated by Hamas, and with about 85% of the population displaced by the war, Israel is under great pressure to halt its aggression and open talks to end the war.

The US Many of Israel’s allies and enemies, including Israel, are calling for a revival of the idea of ​​a “two-state” solution, which proposes a peaceful coexistence between a future Palestinian state and the state of Israel.

The hope in many circles of power is that the current crisis could force both sides to sit down at the table for dialogue, perhaps the only viable option to end the endless cycle of violence in the region.

But according to Netanyahu’s statements this Friday, His intentions are totally on the opposite side.

After these statements, John Kirby, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, acknowledged that Israel “obviously” sees things differently.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu said Israel must have security control over land west of the Jordan River, which includes the territory of any future Palestinian state.

“This is a necessary condition and goes against the idea of ​​(Palestinian) sovereignty. What should be done? “I am going to tell the truth to our American friends and I am going to stop trying to impose a reality on us that seriously harms Israel’s security,” the prime minister said.

Netanyahu has spent much of his political career opposing the idea of ​​a Palestinian state. In fact, last month he said he was proud to have prevented that from happening.

But Washington’s public rejection of diplomatic initiatives and, moreover, its determination to continue the military campaign show how the gap between Israel and its international allies is widening.

Following an October 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli territory that killed 1,300 people and took nearly 240 hostages, the US supported the idea of ​​Israel’s right to defend itself.

But as the death toll and horrific scenes in Gaza mount, Western governments have called on Israel to scale back its offensive.

The White House has tried to influence Israel’s military policy: it has urged the use of more precise weapons instead of aerial bombardments, advised against the use of ground offensives, and continues to call for a two-state solution with an active role. Palestinian Authority when the war in Gaza ends.

Kirby explained that the US “Extremely clear” about the plan for Gaza after the war.

“We want a government in Gaza that represents the aspirations of the Palestinian people, that says what they want for their territory and that there is no re-occupation,” he said.

Advice from Washington has often fallen on deaf ears or been publicly rejected, repeatedly, during visits by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

In turn, frustration has intensified in some circles in Washington over the Biden administration’s apparent blanket support for Israel, along with tougher calls to place conditions on American aid to its Middle East ally.

And remember you can receive notifications. Download our app and activate them so you don’t miss our best content.