News Desk - The Cradle
The US proposal is a 'non-starter' for Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israel's top politicians, who all oppose a Palestinian state
Sullivan arrived in Israel Sunday after meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Sullivan spoke with MbS to advocate for US President Joe Biden’s “comprehensive vision for an integrated Middle East region,” a White House statement said.
The kingdom said the two discussed a “semi-final” version of a wide-ranging security agreement between the countries. MbS has previously stated he would normalize relations with Israel in exchange for a defense pact with the US, access to US civilian nuclear technology, advanced US weapons, and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
However, the Times of Israel reported that “the effort appears to be a nonstarter in Israel, with Netanyahu reiterating again Sunday that he would not accept a Palestinian state, even if one came with a Saudi normalization deal.”
The premier, who has held power in Israel on and off for some 20 years, has often boasted that he is the only Israeli leader who has been able to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state and the only leader capable of doing so in the future. The two most powerful ministers in his governing coalition, Itamar Ben Gvir, and Bezalel Smotrich are opposed to a Palestinian state and instead want to ethnically cleanse and annex both Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu’s main opposition rival, Benny Gantz, has also expressed his opposition to a Palestinian state while criticizing Netanyahu’s management of the war on Gaza.
But Sullivan nevertheless proposed the idea to Netanyahu, as he briefed him on his meetings in Saudi Arabia and on “the potential that may now be available for Israel, as well as the Palestinian people,” the White House statement said.
Saudi Arabia has advocated for a Palestinian state for decades as part of the Saudi Peace Plan issued in 2002.
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