Many countries are trying to plan the long-term future of the Gaza Strip and relations between Israelis and Palestinians. After four and a half months of war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially informed his government of his own plan for the future of the enclave on Thursday, February 22nd. A vision that is far removed from that of its international partners.
Published on: February 23, 2024 – 4:40 p.m
3 mins
The published vision of Benjamin Netanyahu for the post-war period in Gaza fits on one page. Says the Israeli Prime Minister that Israel will continue its military operations in the Palestinian enclave until its objectives are achieved: namely, the destruction of the military and political capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad and the release of all hostages, our special envoys in Jerusalem report. Guilhem Delteil and Nicolas Benita.
Also to prevent Palestinian groups from arming themselves again capable of attacking IsraelThe prime minister wants to maintain his army's freedom of intervention in the Palestinian enclave and regain control of the Egypt-Gaza border. The plan provides also Israeli security control “over the entire area west of Jordan” by land, sea and air.
For Benjamin Netanyahu, post-war Gaza must be demilitarized, “de-radicalized,” and governed by “local officials” who have “administrative experience” and no connection to “countries or organizations that support terrorism.” The head of the Israeli government also wants to dismantle Unrwa, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, and replace them, he says, with “responsible international organizations.” For his part, in his opinion, the reconstruction of the enclave should be financed by “countries acceptable to Israel.”
There are also plans to establish “a security buffer zone on the Palestinian side of the Gaza border.” A provision that contradicts the recommendations of the American administration, which rejects any reduction of Palestinian territory after the war.
A vision that contrasts with that of his partners
In fact, Benjamin Netanyahu's vision clashes in many ways with the vision of the countries that would play a role in the post-war period. The prime minister makes no mention of the Palestinian Authority's return to the enclave or a peace process. Rather, he reaffirms his resistance to the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, which nevertheless existed demands on its Western partnersand requirements for the Arab Gulf states were even formulated several times.
Because at the same time it is International efforts continue to try to reach a new ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. The leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement has been in Cairo in recent days to speak with the Egyptian mediator, while Israel sent a delegation to Paris for a high-level meeting planned for this weekend.
“A reoccupation of the Gaza Strip”
Netanyahu's plan has already been rejected by the Palestinian Authority. In a press release issued on Friday, February 23, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry reiterates that for it this project actually means “a reoccupation of the Gaza Strip” and aims to “block American and international efforts to create it.” a Palestinian state.
Only a plan that recognizes Gaza as an integral part of “an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital will be acceptable.” Any project to the contrary is doomed to failure. “Israel will not succeed in changing the geographical and demographic reality of the Gaza Strip,” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas spokesman Nabil Abou Rudeinah said in a statement.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates//Netanyahu's principles mean re-occupying the Gaza Strip and obstructing American and international efforts to establish the Palestinian state.
Netanyahu's plan serves his interest to prolong the war in order to stay in power.… pic.twitter.com/v9DwtXFr6a
— State of Palestine – MFA 🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@pmofa) February 23, 2024
(And with AFP)
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