Israel Rejects US-Proposed Peace Plan With Palestine

Gazans, Palestinians, food crisis amid threats of Israeli military aggression are queuing for food aid. (UNRWA-Ashraf Amra)

JAKARTA - At least two Israeli ministers voiced rejection of the peace plan proposed by the United States (US) for the formation of a Palestinian state.

According to a report by the Washington Post newspaper, the US and a number of Arab countries are finalizing a long-term peace plan between Israel and Palestine.

The plan includes a definite timeframe for the formation of a Palestinian state, which could be announced as early as the next few weeks.

"We will never agree, under any circumstances, on this plan which basically states that Palestine deserves a reward for the horrific massacre they have committed against us, a Palestinian nation with the capital city in Jerusalem," wrote Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on social media platform X, Thursday 15 February, confiscated by Antara.

According to him, the Palestinian state is a real threat to Israel, as can be seen from the attack of the Hamas fighter group on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also opposed the peace plan reported by the Washington Post.

1,400 people were killed, and the world wants to give them (Palestinian) a country. That's not going to happen!'' he said on X.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.

They annexed the entire city in 1980 and claimed all of Jerusalem as Israel's additional' capital - in an act never recognized by the international community.

Meanwhile, Palestine hopes to establish an independent state in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Israel has been attacking the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack on October 7. The attack killed at least 28,576 people and caused mass destruction and shortages of basic necessities.

On the other hand, nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have died in the Hamas attack.

Israel was sued for genocide at the International Court, which in a tentative decision in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocide and ensure that humanitarian aid was provided to civilians in Gaza.