The Palestinian problem: Netanyahu vows to “eliminate Hamas.”

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Having rejected US President Joe Biden’s call for a two-state solution to the Palestinian problem, Benjamin Netanyahu re-stated on Sunday his intentions to “eliminate Hamas.”

President Netanyahu said, “We are continuing the war on all fronts and in all sectors. We are not giving immunity to any terrorist: Not in Gaza, not in Lebanon, not in Syria and not anywhere. Whoever tries to harm us, we will harm him.

“Regarding our hostages, we have returned home – as of today – 110 of our hostages and we are obligated to returning all of them. This is one of the goals of the war and the military pressure is a necessary condition to achieving it.

“I am working on this around the clock. But let it be clear: I utterly reject the Hamas monsters’ capitulation terms.

“Hamas is demanding, in exchange for the release of our hostages, the end of the war, the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza, the release of the murders and rapists of the Nukhba and leaving Hamas in place.

“Were we to agree to this – our soldiers would have fallen in vain. Were we to agree to this – we would not be able to ensure the security of our citizens.

“We would be unable to safely restore the evacuees to their homes and the next October 7th would be only a question of time. I am not prepared to accept such a mortal blow to the security of Israel, therefore we will not agree to this.

“The conditions being proposed by Hamas underscore a simple point – there is no substitute for victory. Only total victory will ensure the elimination of Hamas and the return of all our hostages.

“I told President Biden this in our conversation over the weekend. I greatly appreciate the US support for Israel and I also expressed this to the President.

“However, I will strongly insist on our vital interests. I emphasised to President Biden our determination to achieve all of the goals of the war, and to ensure that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to Israel.

“Therefore, I insist that after we achieve total victory, after we eliminate Hamas, there will no entity in Gaza that finances terrorism, educates for terrorism or sends terrorists.

“Gaza must be demilitarised, under Israel’s full security control.

“I will not compromise on full Israeli security control of all territory west of the Jordan River.

“As Prime Minister of Israel, I have strongly upheld this position in the face of great international and domestic pressure.

“My insistence is what has prevented – over the years – the establishment of a Palestinian state that would have constituted an existential danger to Israel.

“As long as I am Prime Minister, I will continue to strongly insist on this. If someone has a different position, they should show leadership and candidly state their position to the citizens of Israel.”

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Read also: Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen: “Hamas & its funding sources in Europe & the world must be eliminated”

“Today it is us, and tomorrow it is the entire West. We must continue to attack Hamas in Gaza and at the same time attack its sources of funding in Europe and the world,” – Eli Cohen.

 

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History of the two-state “solution”

The two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem is a proposal that envisions the establishment of two separate and independent states for Israelis and Palestinians, coexisting side by side in the region. The origins of this idea can be traced back to the mid-20th century, following the Arab-Israeli War of 1948-1949 and the subsequent creation of the state of Israel.

After the war, the United Nations proposed a partition plan in 1947 that sought to divide British Mandate Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem under international administration.

While the Jewish leadership accepted the plan, the Arab states rejected it, leading to continued hostilities. The outcome of the war resulted in Israel’s establishment and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs.

The idea of a two-state solution gained traction in the aftermath of the Six-Day War in 1967 when Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

The international community, including the United Nations, began advocating for a resolution to the conflict based on the establishment of two states, Israel and Palestine, living within recognised and secure borders.

Oslo Accords mark a step forward.

Numerous peace initiatives and negotiations followed, with the Oslo Accords in the 1990s representing a significant step forward.

However, the road to a two-state solution has been marred by numerous challenges, including issues related to borders, refugees, the status of Jerusalem, and security concerns.

Efforts to reach a final agreement have faced setbacks due to ongoing violence, settlement expansions, and political disagreements. Despite international support for the two-state solution, achieving a lasting resolution remains elusive, with various peace plans and negotiations meeting with limited success.

The history of the two-state solution reflects the complex and deeply rooted nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting the need for sustained diplomatic efforts, compromise, and international involvement to address the competing national aspirations and historical grievances of both parties.