LONDON: The United Kingdom on Sunday expressed disappointment with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance against Palestinian sovereignty, describing it as “disappointing.” “I think it’s disappointing actually, to hear that from the Israeli prime minister,” said UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps on the Sky News channel.
The disagreement stems from a phone call on Friday between Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden, during which Netanyahu firmly opposed the idea of Palestinian sovereignty in the Gaza Strip. Despite the Israeli Prime Minister’s stance, Biden remained optimistic, suggesting that Netanyahu might still consider a form of a Palestinian state.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Netanyahu’s office, it was reiterated that Israel insisted on maintaining security control over Gaza, after eliminating Hamas. This condition directly contradicts the Palestinian legitimate demand for sovereignty over the region.
Netanyahu Rejects Palestinian Sovereignty Over West Bank and Gaza
Earlier in the week, Netanyahu also rejected the notion of Palestinian sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, emphasizing Israel’s need for “security control over all the territory west of the (River) Jordan.”
Following the Friday call, Biden expressed the possibility that Netanyahu could eventually agree to a two-state solution, a concept long seen by diplomats as a potential path to peace in the Middle East. Biden highlighted that there are various types of two-state solutions, including those where countries lack their own militaries.
Reacting to Biden’s comments, a senior Hamas official, Izzat al-Rishq, dismissed the possibility of Israel agreeing to the establishment of a Palestinian state. Al-Rishq stated in a press release, “The illusion that Biden is preaching about a state of Palestine and its characteristics does not fool our people.” He added that Biden is viewed as a “full partner in the genocidal war,” and the Palestinian people do not expect positive outcomes from him.
