New Israeli foreign minister rejects Palestinian statehood as unrealistic goal

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated on Monday that he did not view the establishment of a Palestinian state as feasible, in response to renewed calls by Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas for sovereignty and independence.

Saar’s comments come amid ongoing tensions, with Abbas emphasising that lasting peace and stability hinge on Palestinian statehood. Abbas reaffirmed his commitment to this goal during a speech marking the 20th anniversary of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's death.

Saar’s remarks align with Israeli concerns over security risks linked to Hamas, the militant group governing Gaza. He highlighted that a Palestinian state would effectively create a “Hamas state,” expressing that such an entity could compromise Israel's safety.

His stance contrasts with recent diplomatic efforts to normalise relations between Israel and Arab nations under the Abraham Accords, a framework established in 2020 with support from then-U.S. President Donald Trump. The accords, which paused under the Biden administration, are anticipated to resume following Trump’s expected return to office in January.

The ongoing hostilities in Gaza, which began after Hamas’s large-scale assault on southern Israel on October 7 of last year, have deepened these divides. The attack led to significant Israeli casualties, primarily civilians, and prompted a robust Israeli military response in Gaza.

Recent data from Gaza’s health ministry, considered credible by the United Nations, reports over 43,000 Palestinian deaths, largely among civilians. In response to the Gaza conflict, Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based group allied with Hamas, has intensified its assaults on Israel, with cross-border conflicts escalating notably since late September.