Israel has flatly rejected the formation of a sovereign Palestinian state, with Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said today, mere hours after the UN Security Council endorsed the Trump administration’s 20-point Gaza plan.
Speaking to Israel’s 103FM radio, Danon made it clear that while Jerusalem supports the plan’s security components, it has refused any suggestion even remotely indicating the possibility of a sovereign Palestine in the near future.
“There will not be a Palestinian state,” Danon said, adding that any statehood language in the resolution is “highly conditional” and dependent on long-standing reforms, he doubts will ever take place.
“If all the conditions are met and all the reforms are carried out… it is very conditional, it is not going to happen,” reports Jerusalem Times.
He noted that while the Israeli premier had made his refusal to ever support a sovereign Palestinian very clear, Jerusalem could be open to negotiations, “If in the future Gazans change their ways and become seekers of peace, then we will sit and talk with them.”
Danon confirmed that Washington plans to deploy a multi-national global task force for Gaza’s post-war security, particularly for overseeing its demilitarisation, as part of the peace plan’s second phase, he expressed scepticism over its success, warning that such international missions often drift from their mandate and insisted that any operation must prioritise the disarmament of Hamas.
He also downplayed the approval of the ceasefire resolution by the UNSC on Monday, arguing that while it authorises countries to participate in the proposed ISF (International Stabilisation Force), it does not invoke Chapter 7 of the UN Charter (which would allow binding enforcement measures).
“The decision is not one with teeth,” he said. “It is a call to action intended to allow various states to send forces to the region.”
Reiterating Israel’s stance, he vowed that Jerusalem will not allow the terror group to retain any weapons, and further threatened its destruction should it not comply.
“Just as we are determined to bring all the hostages home, we will demonstrate the same determination in ensuring that Hamas is disarmed,” he said, adding “We will not stop or let up until Hamas no longer presents a threat to the State of Israel.”
