Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has said Israel shall now choose between a “two-state solution” and “demographic meltdown.”
In his opening speech on Monday’s cabinet session, the Premier stressed that since 1948 the Palestinian population has exceeded Israel’s by more than 250,000 people.
According to a Palestinian census only six months ago, the numbers were close but in favor of the Jews, with 49.7 percent of the Palestinian population residing in historic Palestine, while the Jews constitute 50.3 percent of the total population.
The research studies on which Shtayyeh is believed to have based his remarks on affirmed that the situation will change by late 2020 in favor of the Palestinians, who will amount to about seven million compared to 6.8 million Jews, or a little more, for both sides.
“Settlement is the enemy of peace, and the Israeli occupation government shall halt its colonial schemes and the confiscation of our lands in which it is building thousands of settlement units,” Shtayyeh stressed.
There are more than 750,000 settlers on Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, constituting 25 percent of the West Bank population, the PM noted.
On the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Shtayyeh urged Europe and the rest of the world to take a step towards breaking the fait accompli, recognizing the state of Palestine, curbing settlement plans, annexation, demolishing homes, Judaizing Jerusalem, and isolating Gaza.
“The world is requested to stand with the freedom of our people, end the occupation, and let Israel pay the price for its continuous aggression against Palestinians.”
The PM hinted in his speech that if Israel doesn’t agree on the “two-state solution,” it shall then give in to the “one-state solution.”
The solution has been earlier proposed by US and Palestinian officials and even by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who threatened that it would be a possible option if the “two-state solution” fails.
According to Palestinians, the acceptable one state is that which grants its residents complete and equal rights, which means Palestinians take control over the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem and be granted all the rights enjoyed by Israelis, including running for elections and voting.
