Israeli foreign minister says creation of Palestinian state not realistic
Here’s more on what Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, told reporters in Jerusalem:
- The creation of a Palestinian state is not realistic, as it would be a “Hamas state”.
- The most important question for the future of the Middle East is preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
- US President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear he understands the dangers of Iran getting hold of nuclear weapons.
- Israel is ready to end the war in Gaza when its objectives are achieved.
- While Israel has responded positively to Gaza ceasefire talks, Hamas has failed to make progress.
- Residents of northern Gaza will be able to go home at the end of the war.
- No decision has been reached on the annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu talks of ‘peace’ in the Middle East after call with Trump
Netanyahu and Trump see “eye to eye” on the threat posed by Iran, the Israeli leader said in a video statement on Sunday.
Meron Rapoport, editor at the Local Call news outlet in Tel Aviv, said the prime minister talked about “peace” in the Middle East. “This is a word that Netanyahu has not uttered for the past year at least,” he told Al Jazeera.
Rapoport said it was too early to draw conclusions on what the shift meant but noted it may signal a change of posture.
“Israel is trying to push to end the war in Lebanon – this is quite clear,” the editor said. “There’s even talk of a unilateral ceasefire from the Israeli side hoping Hezbollah will do the same.”
In Gaza, “there may be pressure by the outgoing Biden administration and maybe also from the incoming Trump administration” towards a ceasefire deal after over a year of war.
There won't be peace while the occupation continues :/
Trump’s election an opportunity to apply Israeli sovereignty on West Bank: Smotrich
Israel’s far-right finance minister says the election of Donald Trump is an opportunity to apply Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank in 2025, Israel’s Ynet News reports.
Bezalel Smotrich, who also has a Defence Ministry supervisory role for settlers as part of his coalition deal with Netanyahu, said he hopes the incoming Trump administration in Washington will recognise an Israeli sovereignty push, according to a statement from Smotrich’s office.
Smotrich said there is a wide consensus in the governing coalition and the opposition against the establishment of a Palestinian state. “The only way to remove this danger from the agenda is to apply Israeli sovereignty over the settlements in Judea and Samaria,” he said.
“I have directed the start of professional work to prepare the necessary infrastructure to apply Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria [the West Bank],” he said, according to the statement.
Israel’s finance minister sees ‘golden opportunity’ to annex West Bank
Bezalel Smotrich is not just the finance minister. He is a minister within the ministry of defence in Israel that is responsible for administering the occupied West Bank – and for expanding settlements. So when he talks about ‘enforcing Israeli sovereignty’, he is talking about the annexation of the occupied West Bank, which is part of the Israeli government agenda.
He’s saying Donald Trump’s presidency offers a golden opportunity for the Israeli government to finish the job. He’s told his staff to take the practical steps, the infrastructure steps, needed to ensure this annexation can happen by 2025 when Trump takes office.
So, when Smotrich talks about annexation, many observers say we have to believe him.
