Dr. Jamal Harfoush: Netanyahu's description of the establishment of a Palestinian state as a "ridiculous idea" undermines international law, which guarantees the right of peoples to self-determination.

Sari Samour: The international and media preoccupation with the displacement issue has obscured the greater crime, which is the genocide of the Palestinians.

Fayez Abbas: Netanyahu continues to lie about a Palestinian state, and his plan for the Gaza Strip failed on October 7.

Dr. Suhail Diab: What Netanyahu is doing is a losing gamble on his political future, like a losing casino player who bets everything he has.

Samer Anabtawi: Israel no longer rejects just a specific Palestinian faction or group, but rather rejects the existence of any Palestinian entity in principle.

Yasser Manna: Netanyahu's statements reflect the deep-rooted tendencies of the right-wing movement to completely deny the Palestinian right to land and sovereignty.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent speech, in which he described the idea of establishing a Palestinian state as "absurd," has sparked a wave of sharp criticism, with claims that these statements constitute a clear violation of international law and the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.

In separate interviews with Al-Quds, writers, political analysts, experts, and university professors believe that Netanyahu's speech reveals Israel's premeditated intentions to thwart any political path and redefine the conflict from a political to a religious one, undermining the foundations of internationally recognized peaceful solutions.

They assert that Netanyahu's statement did not present anything new in terms of his historical position rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state, but it clearly reflects a dangerous escalation in the Israeli vision of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. It is moving toward perpetuating a racist settlement reality and promoting the idea that the mere existence of Palestine as a political entity, even if it is a civilian, demilitarized entity, represents an existential threat to Israel.

They believe Netanyahu's statements pave the way for legitimizing policies of displacement and apartheid, amidst the international community's disturbing disregard.

A number of speakers believe Netanyahu's speech represents a dangerous political gamble aimed at saving his personal and political future, even if it leads to further war and instability in the region.

They point out that current Israeli policy clearly aims to completely liquidate the Palestinian cause by imposing coercive demographic and geographic realities, which threatens to have disastrous repercussions regionally and internationally unless the international community takes immediate and effective action.

Netanyahu reveals hidden intentions

Professor Dr. Jamal Harfoush, professor of scientific research methods and political studies at the University of the Academic Research Center in Brazil, says that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech on Sunday evening, in which he described the idea of establishing a Palestinian state as "ridiculous," represents a clear declaration of the failure of efforts promoting the possibility of achieving "peace" through a two-state solution.

Harfoush asserts that Netanyahu's speech reveals premeditated intentions aimed at thwarting any Palestinian aspiration for self-determination, in flagrant violation of the principles of international law and UN resolutions, particularly Resolutions 181 and 242.

Harfoush explains that Netanyahu's description of the idea of a Palestinian state as "ridiculous" is not a passing statement, but rather a complete disregard for international law, which guarantees the right of peoples to self-determination, in accordance with Common Article 1 of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Harfoush points out that Netanyahu's insistence on requiring a "Jewish state" reflects a dangerous attempt to redefine the Palestinian-Israeli conflict from a conflict over land and rights to a religious conflict, in clear disregard for international principles prohibiting religious and ethnic discrimination and affirming the principle of equality enshrined in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

legitimizing apartheid policies

Harfoush believes that these theses pave the way for legitimizing apartheid policies and establishing a discriminatory colonial system against Palestinians in the 1948 occupied territories, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.

Harfoush asserts that Netanyahu's claim that the Palestinians "want a state within a state" reveals Israel's deep security vision, which views the mere presence of Palestinians, even if disarmed, as an existential threat.

Harfoush explains that, with this position, Netanyahu is not only seeking to eliminate Hamas as a resistance movement, but also to completely empty Gaza of any Palestinian sovereignty, whether through direct Israeli administration or through superficial local arrangements that lack any national will.

Harfoush points out that Israeli policies in the West Bank take a different form through settlement expansion, forced displacement, and the dismantling of the Palestinian national fabric, as part of a systematic policy aimed at eliminating Palestinian national identity.

Turning the Palestinian issue into a humanitarian issue

Harfoush explains that the repercussions of these policies are extremely dangerous, most notably transforming the Palestinian issue into a purely humanitarian matter managed through aid, far removed from its essence as a matter of established political rights. This threatens to destabilize the region and destabilize the entire region.

Harfoush warns that the continuation of these policies without a serious international response will erode the legitimacy of international law and transform UN charters into empty, ineffective texts.

Harfoush emphasizes that what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank amounts to crimes of genocide and forced displacement, and requires urgent international action to ensure accountability, including activating the role of the International Criminal Court in accordance with the Rome Statute.

Harfoush asserts that Netanyahu's goal is not merely to end the security threat, as he claims, but rather to end the entire Palestinian cause through political and demographic genocide, calling for an escalation of political and legal resistance in defense of the Palestinian right to freedom and sovereignty.

Netanyahu's rejection of a Palestinian state is not new.

For his part, writer and political analyst Sari Samour asserts that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent speech on the Palestinian state contained nothing new regarding his position on establishing a Palestinian state.

Samour explains that "Since his youth, and since the beginning of his political activity, Netanyahu has categorically rejected the idea of establishing a Palestinian state. Even after coming to power, he did not change his position, but rather remained steadfast in this approach. He believes that the idea of a Palestinian state violates the Israeli narrative, which denies the existence of a Palestinian people with an independent national identity and insists on portraying the Palestinians as mere residents without any real political entity or rights."

Regarding Netanyahu's statements about "Hamas not remaining in Gaza" and "rejecting the Palestinian Authority from governing there," Samour emphasizes that Netanyahu has been repeating these phrases since the beginning of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip. However, Samour asserts that "what's striking is that the Israeli media itself is now ridiculing these repeated statements, noting that Netanyahu didn't offer any new proposals in his most recent speech."

Samour believes that Netanyahu's insistence on repeating the same headlines confirms that he "is seeking to buy more time, prolong the war, and continue the war of extermination and forced displacement against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip."

a long-term war of attrition

Samour believes that "the international and media preoccupation with the displacement issue has obscured the greater crime, which is the genocide of the Palestinians, as the focus has shifted from the need to stop the war to simply preventing displacement, which is a humanitarian and political catastrophe."

Regarding the repercussions of Netanyahu's speech, Samour asserts that "no one can predict specific outcomes, as the war is still raging and the aggression is ongoing."

Samour points out that "some Israeli sources and Hebrew media outlets have begun to speak clearly about Israel sinking deeper and deeper into the Gaza quagmire, entering a long-term war of attrition."

Samour explains that "had Netanyahu accepted community-based management of the Gaza Strip, as some Palestinian factions, including Hamas, have offered, he might have achieved his stated goal of preventing Hamas from remaining in power. However, his insistence on completely eliminating the movement means, in reality, seeking to eliminate the Palestinian people themselves, given that Hamas is deeply rooted in the Palestinian popular consciousness."

"Netanyahu's speech is worthless if the Americans want another option," Samour says. "Ultimately, they are the ones who have the greatest influence on Israeli policies at this stage."

thwarting Palestinian reconciliation efforts

In turn, writer and expert on Israeli affairs Fayez Abbas asserts that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used a new term in his recent speech on the Palestinian state, describing it as a "ridiculous idea." He pointed out that the attempt to establish a state in Gaza has failed, citing what happened on October 7, 2023.

Abbas explains that Netanyahu's talk about the failure of the Gaza experiment confirms that his government's plan was based on maintaining Hamas's rule in the Strip, with the goal of preventing the return of the Palestinian National Authority to Gaza and thwarting internal Palestinian reconciliation efforts.

Abbas points out that October 7th dealt a "decisive blow" to all Israeli plans regarding the Gaza Strip, prompting Netanyahu to reiterate his claim that the Palestinians refuse to recognize Israel's Jewishness, thus justifying Israel's rejection of any agreement leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Netanyahu enters the Guinness Book of Records for lying

Abbas asserts that Netanyahu's claims in this regard are "a complete lie," emphasizing that Netanyahu "is entering the Guinness Book of Records for lying," because even if the Palestinian leadership and people recognized Israel's Jewishness, the latter would never agree to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.

Regarding the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, Abbas explained that Netanyahu had declared several objectives from the outset, including the return of Israeli captives, the end of Hamas's military and civil authority, and the prevention of the return of the Palestinian Authority to the Strip. He noted that Israel's true plan is to remain inside the Gaza Strip and establish Jewish settlements there, as part of a long-term vision.

Abbas explained that Israel is currently working to forcibly displace Gaza's residents, based on what he described as former US President Donald Trump's plan, which seeks to change the demographic composition of the Strip through displacement.

Netanyahu is in the countdown phase

For his part, Dr. Suhail Diab, a political science professor and expert on Israeli affairs, says that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in the countdown to the end of his political and personal career, both locally and regionally. He points out that the growing indicators both domestically and internationally, particularly following the dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet and his renewed attempts to reignite the war in the Gaza Strip, clearly indicate this.

Diab explains that what Netanyahu is doing today is nothing more than a losing gamble on his political future, similar to a losing casino player who bets everything he has and even borrows in the hope of recouping his losses.

Diab points out that the latest opinion polls in Israel, along with the escalation of hot issues within Israeli society, confirm Netanyahu's downward trajectory.

Diab believes that interpreting Netanyahu's statements, particularly those related to rejecting the idea of a Palestinian state, must be done through this assessment of his personal, political, and ideological position. Since 1996, when he turned the tables on the Oslo Accords, Netanyahu has not abandoned his traditional vision of rejecting any real political solution. This vision finds its practical translation in the recent decisions taken by the Knesset after October 7, 2023, which were supported by more than 109 members. These decisions aimed to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state in any form, considering it an existential threat to the State of Israel, regardless of the Palestinian entity that might administer it, whether Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or PLO factions.

The most dangerous stage since the beginning of the war

Diab explains that Netanyahu's recent statements reflect his desperate attempt to cling to his ruling coalition and buy time while awaiting changes on the ground or in politics that might serve him.

Diab warns that this phase has become the most dangerous since the start of the war, as Netanyahu's margin for maneuver has reached its maximum, which could push him to issue "crazy" statements or undertake dangerous military adventures to turn the tables in his favor.

Diab asserts that Netanyahu, by clearly declaring his rejection of the presence of Hamas or the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, is not only seeking to manage the conflict, but also to liquidate the Palestinian cause entirely.

"The current war is not a war against Hamas or to recover prisoners. Rather, according to Diab, it aims to implement forced demographic solutions against the Palestinian people, whether through displacement, genocide, or complete subjugation, in both Gaza and the West Bank."

Diab points out that the West Bank will be the biggest loser, regardless of the outcome of the war in Gaza. If there is an escalation and Netanyahu makes gains on the ground, the next phase will see the West Bank targeted with escalating settlement activity, annexation, and displacement. If a settlement or deal is reached, however, the West Bank will also be a victim, potentially being traded for Gaza under regional arrangements that may be concluded under U.S. auspices.

The historical approach of the Zionist movement

Writer and political analyst Samer Anabtawi says that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent statements, in which he once again denied the Palestinian people's right to establish their own state, were not surprising. Rather, they fall within the historical approach of the Zionist movement, which rejects the existence of any Palestinian entity between the river and the sea and seeks to establish the Jewish character of the state and gain complete control over Palestinian land.

Anbatawi explains that Israeli policies, both security and political, at both the domestic and international levels, have always been linked to this approach, noting that anyone who believed it was possible to change this mentality was mistaken.

Anbatawi explains that the Zionist movement, since its inception, has been based on the idea of replacing Palestinians with Israelis, which explains Israel's continued insistence on thwarting any possibility of establishing an independent Palestinian state.

Anbatawi points out that Netanyahu, through his boastful statements to the international community, blatantly denies the Palestinians' right to self-determination, flouting international law and UN resolutions.

Anbatawi asserts that Israel is relying on the logic of force, exploiting the division and weakness in the Arab region and the Western bias supporting it to impose its vision on the ground.

The mistake of negotiating with a settler colonial movement

Anbatawi explains that the agreements signed by some Arab and Islamic parties with Israel have, unfortunately, contributed to weakening the Palestinian cause. He considers it a mistake to negotiate with a colonial-settler movement like Zionism, especially given the imbalance of power in favor of the occupation.

Anbatawi points out that the Zionist project has become fully exposed today, as it works to displace the population of Gaza, seize complete control of the West Bank, and displace as many Palestinians as possible.

According to Anabtawi, it has become clear that Israel no longer rejects just one particular Palestinian faction or group, but rather rejects the existence of any Palestinian entity in principle.

Anbatawi emphasizes that the challenge today lies in how to confront this Zionist settlement project, calling for the launch of a unified and strong "Palestinian-Arab-Islamic" project to confront it.

Anbatawi warns that Netanyahu is using the pretext of fighting Hamas and the Palestinian resistance not to eliminate a specific movement, but rather to prevent the presence of any Palestinian national leadership in the Gaza Strip, paving the way for the implementation of a project of mass displacement and the liquidation of the Palestinian presence.

Establishing a permanent settlement reality

For his part, writer and expert on Israeli affairs, Yasser Manna, believes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent statements, in which he described the idea of establishing a Palestinian state as "ridiculous," clearly reflect the deep-seated tendencies of the ruling Israeli right-wing movement, which is based on a complete denial of Palestinian rights to land and sovereignty.

Manna explains that Netanyahu's focus on the issue of the "Jewishness of the state" and his accusation that the Palestinians are seeking to establish a "state within a state" represents a reproduction of the traditional Zionist narrative, which considers the conflict with the Palestinians an existential one, not a political one. Manna emphasizes that these statements are not merely a temporary political position, but rather part of a broader Israeli strategy aimed at perpetuating a permanent settlement reality and eliminating the very idea of establishing any Palestinian political entity, in line with early Zionist literature.

Manaa explains that Netanyahu's government is no longer content with merely managing the conflict as previous governments did, but is now seeking to resolve it once and for all by denying the Palestinian other and ending its political presence, whether in Gaza or the West Bank.

A policy related to the concept of "rolling annihilation"

Regarding Netanyahu's stance on Hamas and the Palestinian National Authority, Manaa asserts that his insistence on not allowing either to remain in the Gaza Strip reflects a dangerous project that goes beyond excluding one party in favor of another.

According to Manaa, Netanyahu aims to empty the Palestinian arena of any unified national representation and transform Gaza into a devoid of sovereignty, subject to networks of local or regional administrations under direct Israeli security supervision.

Manaa points out that this policy is organically linked to the concept of "rolling genocide" currently being implemented in Gaza and the West Bank, through the gradual and deliberate destruction of the Palestinian people's infrastructure, social, and political structures, thus normalizing genocide as a prelude to forced and voluntary population displacement.

Manaa warns that the consequences of this policy will be disastrous, as it will prolong the genocide and eliminate any future opportunity for a political solution based on Palestinian rights. In this context, Netanyahu's rejection of any independent or unified Palestinian political presence falls within the framework of an effort to impose a complete "resolution of the conflict"—politically, geographically, and demographically.

Manaa asserts that Netanyahu's statements and strategy represent a dangerous development in the nature of Israel's approach to the Palestinian issue, and a radical shift from managing the conflict to attempts to completely eliminate it.