New York: Divergent views on the establishment of a Palestinian state post the Israel-Hamas conflict have strained US-Israel relations. Responding to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed disagreement, stating, “We obviously see it differently.” Netanyahu, on Thursday, extended the timeline for victory over Hamas, dismissing US calls to de-escalate the Gaza offensive. He reiterated Israel’s security control requirement over the entire territory west of the Jordan River, conflicting with the concept of Palestinian sovereignty.
In a nationally televised news conference, Netanyahu firmly stated, “This is a necessary condition, and it conflicts with the idea of (Palestinian) sovereignty.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, earlier advocating Palestinian independence for genuine Israeli security, had urged Israel to scale back military operations in Gaza this week.
In response to US pressure, Netanyahu defended Israel’s right to make independent decisions, asserting, “a prime minister in Israel should be able to say no, even to our best friends – to say no when necessary, and to say yes if possible.”
Concerns loom globally about Gaza and Palestinian territory’s fate post the Israel-Hamas conflict. Hamas controlled the Gaza Strip government before the war. During Blinken’s Middle East visit, he conveyed Arab countries’ readiness, including Saudi Arabia, to aid in Gaza’s reconstruction and support future Palestinian governance, contingent on Israel paving the way for Palestinian statehood.
