Opposing opinions and divisions within the Israeli government on the creation of a Palestinian state and on the management of the hostage crisis are increasingly being heard publicly.
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A denial in the middle of Shabbat: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies having told President Joe Biden that he did not rule out the creation of a Palestinian state, as reported by the White House.
The statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, reported by the Reuters news agency, is in contrast to the comments made by the American president on Friday after the conversation between the two men by telephone. Benyamin Netanyahu, during his conversation with Joe Biden, “ reiterated that after the destruction of Hamas, Israel must maintain security control over Gaza to ensure that it no longer poses a threat », assures the Prime Minister’s office.
The day before, Joe Biden had nevertheless considered that the head of the Israeli government was not necessarily opposed to all possible forms for a Palestinian state. But on Saturday evening, the main person concerned cut it short on the social network I will not compromise on full Israeli security control over all territory west of the Jordan River – and this is contrary to statehood in Palestinen,” writes Benyamin Netanyahu.
ישראלית מלאה על כל השטח ממערב לירדן – וזה מנוגד למדינה פלסטינית.
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) January 20, 2024
Disagreement over hostage management
A confusion between Biden and Netanyahu which has not escaped the right wing of the latter’s government coalition. We cannot, accuses a member of her own party, of saying one thing and its opposite in the same breath. Several far-right Israeli ministers proclaim in unison: “ We will never allow the creation of a Palestinian state », reports our correspondent in Jerusalem, Michael Paul.
Dissensions within the cabinet mainly focus on the fate of the hostages, while demonstrations are increasing in Israel to put pressure on the government and speed up an agreement with Hamas to release the hostages. Minister Gadi Eisenkot, a member of the war cabinet and former chief of staff, publicly recognizes the army’s inability to achieve the objectives that have been set.
In a television interview, the former general, who has just lost a son in the war, “ hope » that the Prime Minister does not seek to continue the conflict indefinitely in order to ensure his political survival. “ Without an agreement, it is impossible to bring back the hostages alive », Said the minister who is proposing new legislative elections soon.
Read also[En direct] Netanyahu still opposed to “Palestinian sovereignty” in Gaza, scene of fierce fighting