JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli US ambassador Mike Huckabee called on Wednesday to condemn the recent collapse of Gaza’s ceasefire talks on decisions by European leaders. Recognizing the Palestinian state.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks have been stagnating repeatedly since the early months of the war, and long before the talk of major European nations recognizing the Palestinian state.
The decision was announced by France, the UK and other countries after the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy had already held I left in frustration From negotiations that took place behind closed doors. It is unknown how and when they began to break.
But Huckabee’s remarks in an interview with the Associated Press refer to sharp disparities in the West in how to approach the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the rift has deepened since President Donald Trump took office.
Many European countries have tried to pressure Israel (the stronger party) and emphasize pursuing a solution for the two states as a way to address the root causes of conflicts that have long preceded the war in Gaza. However, the Trump administration gave Israel a wide latitude to end the war on that condition.
Disputes that should be put pressure on either side
The White House fully supported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision To end the previous ceasefire The Trump helped brokers and resumed a wide range of military operations, during which time it prevented Israel from entering Gaza for more than two months.
Trump appears to have adopted an Israeli position, including further military pressure. Planned attacks In some of Gaza’s most populous regions – they will force Hamas to surrender.
“We will see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is faced and destroyed!!!” Trump posted this week on his Truth Social Site.
Meanwhile, France, the UK and more than 20 other Western parallel countries have made an announcement I’m angry at Israel’s actionsit demands more to stop the fighting and promote humanitarian aid. The move to recognize the Palestinian state, largely symbolic, was intended to put pressure on Israel to stop the attack.
The UK said explicitly linking the two. It suppresses recognition of the Palestinian state If Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza, it stopped construction of settlements on the West Bank and committed to a solution for the two states.
The current government of Israel and most of its political class were opposed to the Palestinian state even before the war. They say they will now reward Hamas and allow them to finally carry out the October 7 attack.
“Reverse effect”
Hackaby himself Long-time opponents of the Palestinian state“The noise made recently by European leaders… has the opposite effect they probably want.”
“If they believe they are unilaterally seeking two states, which is the perception of the Palestinian state, they will quickly bring them closer. The sad truth is that it is driving them even further,” he said.
The AP did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the French and British Foreign Offices.
Most Palestinians believe that the conflicts of decades ago are rooted in Israel’s military occupation of independent states and the lands they want for it. Continuous expansion of Jewish settlements. Attempts to negotiate solutions for the two states, dating back to the early 1990s, have repeatedly collapsed as violence erupted, and there has been no serious or substantial consultations since Netanyahu took office in 2009.
On Wednesday, Israel approved plans for the settlement Area known as E1 Outside of Jerusalem, Palestinians and others cut the West Bank in half, making it virtually impossible to establish a viable and adjacent state.
Past US administrations have joined Western allies who vehemently oppose such a plan. Trump and Huckabee – a strong supporter of Israeli settlements – did not.
Cerez-fire talks show signs of progress
The ceasefire talks continue, Hamas said this week. Accepted a proposal from an Arab mediator It resembles the previous ones that were advanced by the United States and accepted by Israel. Israel and the United States have not yet responded to the offer.
Huckabee said he doesn’t trust Hamas to be serious enough to “put a signature on it,” and said he can’t elaborate the meeting beyond saying the group could be “entangled in this,” as the group has previously argued.
The main differences revolved around the conditions under which the war would end.
Hamas said he would release only the remaining hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, but said Israel is working to return all hostages, defeat Hamas, disarm him and maintain permanent security controls on the territory.
In Israel, many people blame Netanyahu for failing consultations and criticize him. I’m trying to extend the war To keep his far-right governing coalition intact. Hundreds of thousands took me down the street Over the weekend, he protests his planned attack and asks for a contract to return the prisoners.
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