New York Times commentator Thomas Friedman, who is close to US President Joe Biden, revealed more details about the plan that Washington presented to “Israel” for what is known as “the next day” in Gaza, and about the Saudi reference to its chances of success.

In a report entitled “Netanyahu turns against Biden,” Friedman stated that “Biden left Netanyahu with two options - either he would be the person who refused all cooperation and bear full responsibility for the events of October 7, or the person who paved the way for peace,” noting that he said “the two-state solution is possible even when (Netanyahu) is in power.”

Friedman emphasized in his article that “the United States is still opposed to a ceasefire, but it is working on the “next day” in a two-stage process, where an agreement will be reached to release Hamas prisoners, and Israel will allow the Palestinians to administer the Gaza Strip, and ultimately, when “Israeli forces are leaving, a multinational force will be inserted.”

He explained that Biden told Netanyahu that he had two choices: “Either you will be remembered in history as a person who refused any cooperation with the Palestinians in order to end the conflict, and as an Israeli leader who led to the (disaster) of October 7 - or you will be the Israeli leader who granted a state to the Palestinians, and guaranteed It secured Israel and led to peace with Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Islamic world.”

According to Friedman, the view in Washington, and in the Israeli occupation army, is that “Israel is far from defeating Hamas, and is unlikely to do so any time soon,” and that “at the expense of civilian lives in Gaza that the United States and the world could carry around".

In the second phase of the same plan, according to Friedman, the Palestinian Authority - which will undergo a “reform process” before elections are held - will build “appropriate institutions with the help of Arab and Western countries,” including the West Bank.

At the same time, Saudi Arabia will begin the process of normalizing its relations with Israel, which will culminate when a two-state solution is reached.

Friedman added, “In order for the Israelis to understand the seriousness of this idea, an important signal came from Riyadh: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan announced in Davos that Saudi Arabia would be ready to normalize its relations with Israel if it reached an agreement that would end with a Palestinian state.”

Friedman believes that this plan is part of Biden's strategy to avoid removing Netanyahu from power, in exchange for offering him an option to accept what he sees as American policy towards the region.

The American journalist mentioned that he spoke with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken last Wednesday at the Davos Economic Conference, asking him why he felt “that Israel is losing on three main fronts,” and the way to change this reality.

Blinken told him, “There is now something that did not exist in the past... countries that are showing their willingness to establish relations with Israel at a level that they were not prepared for in the past, and this may provide a necessary guarantee for commitments and promises that Israel will enjoy security.”

According to Blinken, “the only way to achieve this normalization is by creating a path to a Palestinian state and a strong, civilized Palestinian Authority.”

Friedman’s report comes at a time when “those close to Biden advised him to express his personal lack of confidence in Netanyahu,” because “he is being dragged toward war for personal reasons and is avoiding discussing the issue of the next day.”

Friedman's same sources also stated that Netanyahu “did not make the release of the kidnapped people his top priority and wanted to wait a few more months — despite the fear that by then the kidnapped ones would no longer be alive.”

In parallel, Democratic representatives in Congress signed a letter calling on the Biden administration to oppose the “forced and permanent displacement” of Palestinians from Gaza.

According to what American media reported, 60 Democratic members of the House of Representatives signed the letter, addressed to US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, reflecting concern about “the heavy price imposed on the lives of Palestinian civilians in Israel’s war in Gaza.”