US officials have leveled sharp criticism at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following his announcement that he informed the administration of President Joe Biden of his rejection to the establishment of a Palestinian state after the Gaza war’s end.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said that Netanyahu’s opposition to a Palestinian state could complicate the Senate’s approval of aid packages for Israel.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Peter Welch emphasized that Netanyahu does not share the United States’ concerns regarding the loss of Palestinian lives.
Welch added that Netanyahu’s rejection of a Palestinian state reveals that he “wants to take American money while always rejecting its advice.”
Senator Tammy Duckworth described Netanyahu’s statements as “horrifying.”
Senator Brian Schatz also considered Netanyahu’s stance as mistaken and one that complicates matters for Israel’s future.
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren described Netanyahu’s rejection of a Palestinian state in any post-war arrangements as “dangerous and inconsistent” with US policy.
Warren added that Washington supports the two-state solution as it is the only way to ensure peace, security, and dignity for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Netanyahu’s Statements
Netanyahu stated that he informed the United States of his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state “under any scenario for the post-war phase” in Gaza, contradicting the US wish.
At a press conference on Thursday, Netanyahu pledged to continue the attack on Gaza until Israel achieves a “decisive victory” over the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the retrieval of what he described as the kidnapped, rejecting the idea of a Palestinian state and informing the Americans of his position.
Netanyahu added that “in any future arrangement, Israel needs security control over all territories west of the Jordan River.” He emphasized that “a Prime Minister must be able to say ‘no’ to our friends,” referring to the United States.
The United States had called on Israel to scale down its assault on Gaza, stating that creating a Palestinian state should be part of the “day after” the war.
In recent weeks, public disagreements have surfaced between Biden and Netanyahu regarding the conduct of the Gaza war and the future of the region post-conflict. However, these disputes have not reached the point of halting or changing the nature of the American support for Tel Aviv.
Last week, the news site Axios reported that the American President had hung up the phone during the last call between them, signaling an expansion of the dispute due to the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, which has persisted for 105 days.
Biden previously mentioned that Israel began to lose global support because of what he described as its indiscriminate bombing of Gaza, yet he reaffirmed that Tel Aviv could rely on American support and stressed its “right to self-defense.”
The American President hinted at differences in his relationship with the Israeli Prime Minister, acknowledging that Netanyahu is in a “difficult situation.”
