During a press conference, Smotrich affirmed that the imposition of Israeli sovereignty aims to prevent the establishment of a “Palestinian terrorist state that aims to eliminate us,” describing this step as “realistic” to counter what he called the “political attack” on Israel, according to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. Smotrich also claimed that the American administration supports Israel’s stance against the establishment of a Palestinian state, asserting that Israel “will not allow the establishment of a Palestinian state under any circumstances,” emphasizing Israel’s determination to face any challenges in this context.
Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Lana Nusseibeh, said, “From the beginning, we see agreements as a means to enable us to continue our support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate aspirations for an independent state.” Nusseibeh added, “The annexation of the West Bank would severely undermine the spirit of the Abraham Accords, which led to the normalization of relations with Israel,” stressing that “Israel’s annexation of the West Bank would be a red line for the UAE.”
Israeli media reported on Tuesday that Prime Minister Benjamin is seriously moving to apply Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank. The newspaper explained that “in the backdrop of a wave of announcements from Western countries recognizing a Palestinian state, Netanyahu was scheduled to hold a meeting on this matter, just days before the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where a joint declaration from several Western countries led by France is planned regarding their recognition of a Palestinian state.”
The newspaper pointed out that “the United States will exert its strenuous efforts to prevent this event from taking place on its soil, in light of the decision by Secretary of State Marco Rubio not to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to enter the United States.”
