Israel's Netanyahu tells US he opposes Palestinian state after Gaza war

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he relayed to American officials his opposition to a Palestinian state in the aftermath of the Gaza war. 

"In any future settlement, Israel must control all the territory west of the Jordan River," Netanyahu said in a press conference, adding that he communicated this position to the Biden administration.

He acknowledged that Israeli control of that territory contradicts the notion of Palestinian sovereignty.

Netanyahu said the Biden administration was pushing for a two-state plan to be embraced after the Israeli premier is no longer in power. "When political elements in Israel are talking about 'the day after' [the war in Gaza], they are actually talking about 'the day after Netanyahu.' And those people who talk about 'the day after Netanyahu,' what they really talk about is the establishment of a Palestinian state with the Palestinian Authority," he said. 

Asked if he thought the Biden administration was overstepping or interfering in Israel’s affairs, Netanyahu said, "A prime minister in Israel should be able to say 'no' even to our best friends. [To] say 'no' when necessary and say 'yes' when possible. That's how I operate. I want to expand the circle of peace to four Arab countries, and I am determined to expand it to other countries in the region together with our American friends." 

Netanyahu stressed that the war in the Gaza Strip will continue until all the goals set after Oct. 7 are reached, and that Israel will not accept anything but a full victory over Hamas.

Disagreement over 'day after' plans 

The Israeli premier's statement aligns with similar comments he has made in recent weeks in which he has refused to outline a plan for the postwar administration of Gaza, putting his government on a collision course with the White House. 

Contrary to the Biden administration's position, Netanyahu has said that the Palestinian Authority, which he blames for inciting violence against Israel, cannot be the one charged with managing the Gaza Strip and has come under scrutiny for failing to articulate any tangible postwar plans for the enclave. 

Disagreements between Netanyahu and Biden have deepened in recent weeks. During his press conference on Thursday, Netanyahu referred to a report by NBC News that claimed the Israeli premier had rejected a proposal made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week that would see Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel in exchange for steps advancing Palestinian statehood. According to the report, Netanyahu told Blinken he wasn’t prepared to make a deal that allows for a Palestinian state, as such a move would be eschewed by his far-right coalition partners. 

Domestic politics at play

Eytan Gilboa is a professor and director of the Center for International Communication at Bar-Ilan University in Tel Aviv and an expert on US-Israel relations. He told Al-Monitor that the statement made by Netanyahu on Thursday and his hard line in refusing to discuss plans for the day after the war are causing a wedge between the Israeli government and Washington. 

‘’It seems that internal politics both in Israel and in the United States are taking over the decision-making process," Gilboa said, adding that as a deeply unpopular leader, Netanyahu wants to survive politically. "He is doing or saying what it takes to maintain his coalition, even at the price of sacrificing Israel's security and diplomatic interests."

Gilboa added that Biden is also considering his own domestic political interests ahead of the 2024 presidential election in November. "He (Biden) is under pressure from within his own party and also by his adversary (former President Donald) Trump, whose power is increasing," resulting in him putting increasing pressure on Israel to wrap up the war, Gilboa said. "The result is that bilateral disagreements overcome what should have been joint efforts to manage the war and prepare for the day after."