عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Israeli Lobby Seeks to Restore Jewish Settlement in Gaza

Displaced Palestinians are seen at a temporary tent camp in the Al-Mawasi area in Gaza. (AP)
Displaced Palestinians are seen at a temporary tent camp in the Al-Mawasi area in Gaza. (AP)
TT
TT

Israeli Lobby Seeks to Restore Jewish Settlement in Gaza

Displaced Palestinians are seen at a temporary tent camp in the Al-Mawasi area in Gaza. (AP)
Displaced Palestinians are seen at a temporary tent camp in the Al-Mawasi area in Gaza. (AP)

A so-called “Parliamentary Lobby for the Israeli Victory Project,” which operates in Israel and the United States, decided to submit a demand to the US administration and the Israeli government to “seriously consider a project of voluntary transfer of Palestinians,” claiming that it was the best humanitarian solution for Israel and the Palestinians.

The lobby warned of the American plan to allow the Palestinian Authority to rule Gaza and to establish the two-state solution, claiming that this is “a recipe for repeating the Hamas attack on October 7, several times.”

These positions were announced on the eve of the meeting of the Israeli Mini Ministerial Council for Security and Political Affairs, on Thursday, to discuss the post-Gaza war stage. The lobby announced its adoption of the plan drawn up by Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel, the author of the official project to deport the people of Gaza.

According to Gamliel, Hamas’ rule of the Gaza Strip should end, along with the complete destruction of its sites and tunnels and the dissolution of municipalities and village councils. She added that the entire agricultural land must become a security belt for Israel, while the Israeli army must remain in control of all border crossings and be able to continue its operations.

Transferring UNRWA materials

Gamliel stressed that transferring governing powers to the Palestinian Authority would be very dangerous for Israel.

She noted that the PA leaders share views as Hamas, saying: “They even expressed their support for the October 7 massacre. We did not fight for all this period and pay the price in blood for the establishment of an authority that is hostile to us.”

The minister emphasized that her project required interim civilian rule in the Gaza Strip, led by the United States, Egypt and Jordan, with the Israeli army maintaining its security control.

She added that among urgent tasks will be a process of complete disarmament and the termination of the Palestinian refugee file, while transferring the resources that go to UNRWA to finance the voluntary migration project so that the refugees can build a new life abroad.

The Israeli Victory Project was founded in 2017 and includes a group of deputies from both the coalition and the opposition.

‘Unrealistic illusions’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a briefing to Israeli media, described calls for the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza launched by Israeli ministers, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, as “unrealistic illusions.”

Netanyahu claimed that Israel “does not work to displace the people of Gaza and resettle them in other places in the world.”

“Even if we wanted to, Israel does not have the ability to push the residents of Gaza to leave to another country,” he said, citing legal restrictions.

American figures

Since the creation of the lobby, there have been two American figures in its leadership: Daniel Pipes, president of the Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum, and Gregg Roman, Director General of the same institute, who is a former leader of Jewish institutions and worked as an employee in the Israeli Ministry of Defense and an advisor to the Israeli Foreign Minister.

The lobby believes that the Israeli government and the American administration failed to settle the conflict during 30 years of negotiations, because they “did not deal appropriately with the Palestinian policy” of rejecting proposals, while claiming that the Israelis had to constantly make concessions to the Palestinians.

Similar American lobby

The Israeli Victory Project works in partnership with a similar US lobby that has been established in Congress since 1988. It is led by figures in the American leadership, and funded by American support.

The intense campaign by the Israeli right to promote the voluntary deportation of Palestinians is “unsettling” the American administration and many forces in Israel, who believe it will politically and legally implicate Israel at international arenas.

A political source in the opposition said the call for deportation is no longer limited to a number of far-right ministers and representatives, but is now backed by political, popular and academic forces in Israel and the United States.

These forces are trying to give momentum to this project and refuse in any way to end the war with a political settlement, according to the source.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Israel Says It ‘Will Enforce’ Ban on 37 NGOs in Gaza

The sun sets behind the ruins of destroyed buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on December 31, 2025. (AFP)
The sun sets behind the ruins of destroyed buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on December 31, 2025. (AFP)
TT
TT

Israel Says It ‘Will Enforce’ Ban on 37 NGOs in Gaza

The sun sets behind the ruins of destroyed buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on December 31, 2025. (AFP)
The sun sets behind the ruins of destroyed buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on December 31, 2025. (AFP)

Israel said on Thursday that 37 international NGOs operating in Gaza had not complied with a deadline to meet "security and transparency standards," in particular disclosing information on their Palestinian staff, and that it "will enforce" a ban on their activities.

"Organizations that have failed to meet required security and transparency standards will have their licenses suspended," said spokesman for the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Gilad Zwick.

In March, Israel gave a ten-month deadline to NGOs to comply with the new rules, which expired on Wednesday night.

The UN has warned that the ban will exacerbate the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Arab World

Syria’s Interior Minister Warns Remnants of Former Regime

FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
TT
TT

Syria’s Interior Minister Warns Remnants of Former Regime

FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo

Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab has warned the remnants of the former regime against efforts to lead chaos, killing, and destruction as his ministry announced the arrest of several people in Latakia and Tartus for involvement in war crimes and instigations that threaten civil peace.

Khattab stressed on Wednesday that the state is the sole guarantor for all citizens, ensuring their security, preserving their dignity, and safeguarding their rights.

The minister said in a statement on X that since the early days following Syria’s liberation, the ministry has positioned itself as a central force in restoring order and safety across the country.

This effort has been carried out in coordination with other government agencies and local communities to confront a wide range of security challenges.

Khattab stressed that the ministry’s new approach to policing prioritizes public safety over intimidation. “Our goal is to protect citizens, not to frighten them,” he said, adding that a formal code of conduct has been introduced to ensure law enforcement operates within clear legal and ethical boundaries.

Despite these reforms, remnants of the deposed regime who have aligned themselves with wanted criminals have misinterpreted the ministry’s ethical approach as weakness. “We will protect the oppressed and hold accountable anyone who threatens our country’s security,” he said.

The minister warned the remnants of the defunct regime and their criminal gangs, who insist on continuing the path of chaos, killing, and destruction to “await their inevitable fate.”

“Let this message serve as a final warning to them to cease their actions,” he added.

Meanwhile, the ministry said on its Telegram channel that several people were arrested in operations in Latakia and Tartus after external calls by instigators have led to sectarian chaos and left many people dead and injured.

“The operation came in response to external inciting calls of a sectarian nature, which led to a state of chaos, the death of a number of people, the injury of others, and assaults on public and private property,” it said, noting that “operations are ongoing against these corrupt individuals.”

The ministry said in its statement that it has played an active role in restoring the social fabric and strengthening civil peace. However, “some parties have sought to exploit this stage to spread chaos, undermine security, and threaten stability.”

Arab World

This Is Our Story, Mohammed

The late Mohammed al-Shafei in his office. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The late Mohammed al-Shafei in his office. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

This Is Our Story, Mohammed

The late Mohammed al-Shafei in his office. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The late Mohammed al-Shafei in his office. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

This is our story, Mohammed. We fell in the trap early. We were lured by the beautiful, but deceitful, ink. We chose a thorny profession. We chose a long tunnel. No breaks and no truces. It is the hot pursuit of the news that takes up most of our lives. The reader is insatiable. The journalist pursues stories for so long, until they become the story. A story in their own newspaper. A story about a death. A story about farewell.

We were preparing to say farewell to the year, not say farewell to you. You took part in our meeting on Tuesday. You always made it to our daily meetings. You always brought your experience with you, your kind way of speaking. It was as if you were trying to tell us a message. The old warrior never retires. He would rather fall in the ring. Hours after the meeting, we received the painful news. Your heart betrayed you, as it is likely to do.

The nature of our profession had it so this calm man would occupy himself with thorny files and tough men. Afghanistan took up his interests. He used to travel there when it was teeming with al-Mujahideen. He would return from those arduous journeys with news, investigations and interviews. Even as old age took its toll, Mohammed al-Shafei never abandoned his passion. News intrigued him.

He joined Asharq Al-Awsat nearly four decades ago. He loved the Asharq Al-Awsat family and it loved him back. As in all love stories, he never hesitated, never backed down and was never withholding. I say Asharq Al-Awsat family, while it is a garden of news and headlines, investigations and articles. The family is composed of various nationalities and experiences. They are united under one roof and one passion. He was proud of being part of a trusted newspaper that has preserved its spirit over the years.

How difficult it is to face death. For it to take away a dear son and a valued teacher. How difficult the loss will be. We were used to arguing with you, asking you questions and learning from you. How difficult it will be to pass by your empty office. How difficult it will be to not see you at our meetings.

This is our story, Mohammed. We live between the lines and die between the lines. We will finally rest in the archives of the newspaper. The warmth of our colleagues. Asharq Al-Awsat, with its diversity and generations, embraces everyone who was a part of the family and enriched the experience of its readers. Your heart betrayed you, as it is likely to do, but friendships know no betrayals.