Israeli government officials and spokespersons have called on Israeli public opinion and the Tel Aviv government to adopt a categorical rejection of “any talk about establishing a Palestinian state,” considering that the creation of such a state would be a “prize for extremists.”
These calls came amid mounting international and Arab pressure on Israel to accept a settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the two-state solution, and achieve progress in the truce talks and prisoner exchange.
Hamas, for its part, insists on a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza before reaching an agreement.
Far-right extremist ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of National Security, and Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance, issued sharp statements on Thursday.
Ben Gvir said on X: “1,400 Israelis have been killed, and the world wants to give them a state... This will not happen.”
“In no way will we agree to this plan that says the Palestinians deserve a reward for the massacre they committed against us,” Smotrich said on the same platform.
He added that he would ask the war cabinet to vote against this idea, “by issuing a clear decision stating that Israel opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
“I expect clear support from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot and all ministers,” Smotrich emphasized.
In the same context, Avi Hyman, Netanyahu’s spokesman, also announced that the government rejects any discussion of the issue of a Palestinian state.
He said: “This is not the time when we are discussing giving gifts to the Palestinian people.”
Education Minister Yoav Kisch, from the Likud Party, stated: “Any talk about granting this award...does not concern us and we are not partners in it.”
