The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported on Friday that Israel fears American recognition of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, amid increasing American criticism of Israel and the way its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is dealing with the detainees file and the possibility of achieving the goal of eliminating the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), in addition to the continued large numbers of civilian casualties.

The newspaper quoted Israeli political sources concerned about the intense activity of the US administration to promote the idea of establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip under a unified government based on what is known as a renewed Palestinian authority.

The newspaper said that the US State Department is considering recognizing a Palestinian state as part of a comprehensive political initiative related to what it called “the day after Hamas rule” in the Gaza Strip, according to what it quoted from American sources.

The newspaper confirmed that the issue of recognizing the Palestinian state was raised during the talks held by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken with Israeli officials during his visit to Israel in the past two days.

The newspaper described this step, if it takes place, as a "political tsunami" for the Israeli authority.

Palestinian reform

An Israeli official told the newspaper that the Americans continue to promote the idea of a renewed Palestinian Authority, noting that the current authority in Ramallah is in the process of working to introduce reforms, and this is consistent with the United States’ demand to prove that it has already become a body that meets the definition of a “renewable authority.”

The official added that the Palestinian reforms include changes within the government, changing the nature of the management of the security services, and there is talk of a new professional technocratic government.

American and European agenda

The newspaper also quoted Israeli sources as saying that the issue of a Palestinian state has recently occupied a place in the political agenda for the Middle East promoted by the Americans and Europeans, and they said that the idea is gaining momentum.

They pointed out that it is not a coincidence that a series of Western leaders have recently announced their support for the establishment of a Palestinian state, and this includes leaders who were considered right-wing and most supportive of Israel, such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The newspaper reported that Blinken recently ordered his office staff to prepare organized work for the possibility of American or international recognition of a Palestinian state unilaterally and not through negotiations with Israel or with Israeli approval.

It is noteworthy that successive American administrations refused to recognize a Palestinian state, and linked this to the Palestinians and Israelis reaching an agreement regarding the state.

Washington also opposed Palestine obtaining full membership in the United Nations by thwarting Palestinian requests for membership through the UN Security Council, most recently in 2011.

But US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at the end of last January that his country seeks to establish an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel, stressing that US President Joe Biden believes this is the best way to ensure peace and security for Israel, the Palestinians, and the region as a whole.

American-Israeli disputes

In this regard, the British newspaper "Financial Times" indicated that the deep divisions between Washington and Tel Aviv appeared more evident during Blinken's recent visit.

The newspaper added that the separate press conferences of Netanyahu and Blinken revealed their disagreement, explaining that the disagreements include issues of the next phase of the war and ways to secure the release of detainees held by the Hamas movement.

Source: British press + Anadolu Agency