Monday, February 24, 2025
Facebook Linkedin RSS Twitter

Inevitability

By
Michael Kuttner
-

“The future is not inevitable. We can influence it, if we know what we want it to be.”

This piece of wisdom by an Irish philosopher is particularly relevant given current circumstances.

Unrelenting demonization of Israel over a long period of time has inevitably sown the seeds of noxious perniciousness so prevalent in international forums. Failure to tackle the root causes of this malevolent manifestation has resulted in an out-of-control overflow into Jew hate.

Incitement against Jews, of course, existed well before Jewish sovereignty was re-established. Haters always had and still have plenty of reasons to target Jews, but the daily doses of condemnations against the Jewish State have empowered a wider and growing number.

When those engaged in nefarious activities see the weak and pathetic responses of Governments and law enforcement authorities they become ever more emboldened. In regimes where democracy is fiction and anti-Israel policies are official, the continual drip feed of poisonous propaganda endangers Jewish communities. In countries where Jews no longer live the scourge of hate still lingers.

Add in the rising tide of jihadist extremism and you have a perfect toxic brew. Authorities’ reluctance to face up to this spells trouble.

Once upon a time, Judeophobia was the exclusive preserve of Christian Churches and theology. Then, it morphed into extreme right-wing movements combining secular enmity with lingering religious dogma. Concurrently the rise of Islamic militancy resulted in targeting “infidels” which also encompassed Jews and Christians. At one stage, liberal socialists were staunch supporters of the rights of Jews and Zionism. Increasing numbers of them nowadays have been seduced by the virus of Jew, Israel and Zionist hate.

What we face today is a broad coalition of left and right, secular and religious, all united in their campaigns of delegitimization.

True, we do have staunch and devoted supporters who speak up on our behalf and fight for truth and historical justice. Unfortunately, their voices are often drowned out by the raucous rhetoric of the rabble and the double-speak responses of politicians.

At the end of the Second World War, some Nazi war criminals were put on trial. A few were hanged, while others were sentenced to imprisonment. They were gradually released over a period of time. Many of the worst murderers escaped with the help of the Vatican “rat line” to South America, where most lived out their lives unmolested, never having to face justice. Eichmann was an exception, and his capture by Israel unleashed a torrent of anti-Jewish hate.

Meanwhile, large numbers of those complicit in the Shoah genocide were, after the war, granted admission to various countries as “refugees.” Australia was a desired destination where awkward questions about past deeds did not prove an impediment for admission. Renowned Nazi hunter, Efraim Zuroff, spent his entire career exposing these fugitives from justice who had found a safe haven in these countries. A few, only a pitiable few, were extradited or put on trial.

The collective abdication of any sort of moral responsibility by host countries did not go unnoticed. No doubt today’s neo-Nazi arsonists and graffiti daubers feel safe in the knowledge that they can get away with their crimes.

I listened on YouTube to the speeches made by invited guests at the Holocaust Remembrance Day event hosted at the NZ Parliament. A universal theme was the urgent and vital need to educate the next generation about the horrors and lessons of the Shoah. Hearing this being expounded by NZ politicians made me wonder why, after all these years, Holocaust studies are still not a compulsory part of high school history curricula. It is all very well to say the same thing year after year but unless those in charge actually mandate a serious study of the history of those events nothing will change.

As in the past, successive generations of teenagers will inevitably remain clueless and susceptible to believing each and every lie and historical revisionist fable.

In recent years, great strides were made in interfaith activities whereby many of previous generations’ slanders against Jews and Judaism were finally laid to rest. It has not been an easy or untroubled journey and there have been some significant set backs. I think for example of the NZ Anglican Church’s decision in 1988 to expunge the words Zion and Israel from their Book of Psalms. This purging, in effect, conveyed a message to the Anglican masses that henceforth, Jews were written out of their ancient connection to the Promised Land.

The inevitable result has been a significant drift to anti-Israel rhetoric in the mainstream denominations and the World Council of Churches.

The Vatican only reluctantly recognized Israel in 1993. Its belated acceptance of the Jewish State’s legitimate existence has been half-hearted at best. In 2013, it recognized Palestine as a country despite clear evidence that those in charge deny any Jewish historical connection to Israel. Since the horrendous pogrom of 7 October 2023 by Hamas, the current Pope has condemned Israel’s campaign against terror.

Since 7 October, the chorus of condemnation against Israel from non-Evangelical denominations has escalated. Years of interfaith work have been destroyed in many communities because of reluctance to stand up to increased revisionist agendas.

This is the inevitable corollary of tampering with sacred texts, succumbing to woke political policies and surrendering to the rising tide of jihadist violence.

A perfect example of how a refusal to tackle historical revisionism results in ever-increasing outraged narratives was recently demonstrated.

A map downloaded by the Arabic language account of the Israeli Foreign Ministry showed the Biblical boundaries of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judea. The accompanying explanation stated, “Did you know that the Kingdom of Israel was established three thousand years ago?”  It then goes on to portray the Biblical accounts of Kings Saul, David and Solomon as well as the partition of the territory to the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judea. What follows is a description of their respective destruction and exile by the Assyrian and Babylonian empires.

The post concludes: “However the Jewish People in the Diaspora continued to look forward to the revival and rebuilding of their state.”

Every student of history knows that these are verifiable facts and that the events described took place well before the advent of Christianity and Islam.

Nevertheless this Foreign Ministry posting initiated a whirlwind of hysterical hypocrisy from those described by the international community as “peace partners.”

The Jordanians huffed and puffed: “We condemn in the strongest terms the maps of the region claiming that they are historical for Israel, including parts of the occupied Palestinian territories, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The Kingdom rejects these policies and provocative statements that aim to deny the Palestinians’ right to establish their independent and sovereign state.”

In case that message was not clear enough, the Speaker of the Jordanian Parliament claimed “the maps express a criminal mentality and malicious ambitions that cannot be ignored or tolerated.”

For good measure, a Palestinian Authority spokesperson added, “we denounce the alleged map fabricating an Israeli history dating back thousands of years in line with the Hebrew allegations. This behaviour constitutes a flagrant violation of all international legitimacy resolutions and international law. These extremist Israeli policies are what ignited the region and led to the wars we are currently witnessing.”

What followed was a stunning silence from all those who aid and abet the delegitimizers of Israel.

Not a peep from the World Council of Churches, interfaith groups and the Vatican about this brazen denial of Biblical historical facts.

Nary, an outraged rebuttal, was forthcoming from the UN and the EU.

One can assume that all those countries who religiously vote to condemn Israel and deny its legitimacy find nothing amiss. After all, their acquiescence to condemnatory resolutions at the UN and its associated bodies endorses the fallacious lies of Abbas and his Islamic colleagues. Their silence is an endorsement that Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem have nothing to do with Jews or Judaism.

This collective silence speaks volumes and explains why the inevitable fallout is becoming so lethal and widespread.     

US taxpayer-funded Arabic news network making changes after airing interviews with terrorists

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis is hopeful that changes are underway at Alhurra after the U.S. government-funded Arabic-language news network repeatedly aired the views of terrorists or terror supporters.

The media watchdog told JNS that “there are grounds to be optimistic about real change” at the network following the appointment of Jeffrey Gedmin as president and CEO of its parent organization in October.

“We have had a fruitful meeting and email exchanges with Gedmin and his main team, so there has been actual follow through from them,” a CAMERA spokesman told JNS.

Gedmin agreed to hold periodic meetings with CAMERA in an effort to counter anti-Israel and anti-American bias in the newsroom.

“CAMERA’s deep experience in media oversight will be crucial in ensuring that Alhurra’s programming reflects the values of American taxpayers,” said Andrea Levin, CAMERA’s president and executive director.

“As CAMERA and Alhurra editors may understandably come from different perspectives, it’s natural that we will not always agree on every single topic. But an ongoing dialogue that is open and friendly is a welcome indication that Alhurra is on the right track,” Levin said. “The recent leadership changes signal a new era for the network and we are excited to work together.”

Founded in 2004, Alhurra is a sub-entity of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which also runs Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in southern Israel, the network has brought on guests who have described the attacks as a “heroic military miracle come true” and who have accused Israel of committing genocide.

One contributor, Ismat Mansour, appeared on Alhurra’s website as a political analyst and Israel affairs expert, despite his 1993 conviction for killing a Jewish man in a terror attack.

Levin said that other Arabic-language outlets should engage with critics over their anti-Israel and anti-American biases.

“It is unfortunate that other publicly funded, Arabic-speaking media outlets in the West, such as BBC Arabic, choose not to engage with us in the same well-meaning, transparent manner that Alhurra does,” Levin said.

How to Stop the Spread of Palestinian Radicalism in Epidemiological Terms

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

Red Cross: Humanitarian bystander of the year

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

Press Conference: Donald Trump Holds a Joint Event with Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel – February 4, 2025

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

Donald Trump – 00:00:00-00:00:37 (38 sec)

Thank you, very much. That’s a lot of press. Congratulations, you bring them out, you really bring them out. Today I’m delighted to welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, back to the White House. It’s a wonderful feeling and a wonderful event. We had fantastic talks, and thank you very much, with your staff.

Donald Trump – 00:00:37-00:01:05 (28 sec)

He’s the first foreign head of state to visit during our administration. And Bibi, I want to say it’s an honor to have you with us. Over the past four years, the US and the Israeli alliance has been tested more than any time in history, but the bonds of friendship and affection between the American and Israeli people have endured for generations and they are absolutely unbreakable.

Donald Trump – 00:01:05-00:01:35 (30 sec)

They are unbreakable. I’m confident that under our leadership the cherished alliance between our two countries will soon be stronger than ever. We had a great relationship. We had great victories together four years ago, not so many victories over the past four years, however. In my first term, prime minister and I forged a tremendously successful partnership that brought peace and stability to the Middle East like it hadn’t seen in decades.

Donald Trump – 00:01:35-00:01:59 (24 sec)

Together, we defeated ISIS, we ended the disastrous Iran nuclear deal, one of the worst deals ever made, by the way, and imposed the toughest ever sanctions on the Iranian regime. We starved Hamas and Iran’s other terrorist proxies, and we starved them like they had never seen before, resources and support disappeared for them.

Donald Trump – 00:01:59-00:02:22 (23 sec)

I recognized Israel’s capital, opened the American embassy in Jerusalem and got it built, by the way — built it too just — not only designated it but got it built at a price that nobody has seen for 40 years. We got it built. It’s beautiful, all Jerusalem stone right from nearby and it was — it’s something that’s very special.

Donald Trump – 00:02:22-00:02:49 (27 sec)

And recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, something that they talked about for 70 years and they weren’t able to get it. And I got it. And with the historic Abraham Accords, something that was really an achievement that was I think going to become more and more important because we achieved the most significant Middle East peace agreements in half a century, but the Abraham Accords in particular.

Donald Trump – 00:02:49-00:03:10 (21 sec)

And I really believe that many countries will soon be joining this amazing peace and economic development transaction. It really is a big economic development transaction. I think we’re going to have a lot of people signing up very quickly. Unfortunately for four years, nobody signed up. Nobody did anything for four years except in the negative.

Donald Trump – 00:03:10-00:03:35 (25 sec)

Unfortunately, the weakness and incompetence of those years, those past four years, the grave damage around the globe that was done, including in the Middle East, grave damage all over the globe. The horrors of October 7th would never have happened if I were president, the Ukraine and Russia disaster would never have happened if I were president.

Donald Trump – 00:03:35-00:04:07 (32 sec)

Over the past 16 months, Israel has endured a sustained aggressive and murderous assault on every front, but they fought back bravely. You see that and you know that. What we have witnessed is an all-out attack on the very existence of a Jewish state in the Jewish homeland. The Israelis have stood strong and united in the face of an enemy that has kidnaped, tortured, raped and slaughtered innocent men, women, children and even little babies.

Donald Trump  – 00:04:07-00:04:30 (24 sec)

I want to salute the Israeli people for meeting this trial with courage and determination and unflinching resolve. They have been strong. In our meetings today, the prime minister and I focused on the future, discussing how we can work together to ensure Hamas is eliminated and ultimately restore peace to a very troubled region.

Donald Trump – 00:04:30-00:04:50 (20 sec)

It’s been troubled, but what has happened in the last four years has not been good. I want to thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for working closely with my transition team, special envoy Steve Witkoff, who is here somewhere. Steve? Stand up, Steve, please. What a job you’ve done. What a good job you’ve done.

Donald Trump – 00:04:50-00:05:16 (26 sec)

Proud of you, you’ve done a fantastic job. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Thank you, Mike for working so well with us. Thank you. We have in addition, Marco Rubio, who is on the phone right now, listening to every single word that we say. And he’s going to be great. And Pete, congratulations. And Scott, congratulations.

Donald Trump – 00:05:16-00:05:40 (25 sec)

I see you’re here. And Karoline’s been doing a great job. She’s really probably talked about more than anybody here. She’s done a fantastic job. And thank you very much, Karoline, we’re proud of you. But we’ll only be satisfied when all of these problems are solved, and we have the team to solve them. And that’s going to happen and it’s going to happen, I think, very quickly.

Donald Trump – 00:05:40-00:05:59 (19 sec)

I also strongly believe that the Gaza Strip, which has been a symbol of death and destruction for so many decades and so bad for the people anywhere near it, and especially those who live there and frankly who’s been really very unlucky. It’s been very unlucky. It’s been an unlucky place for a long time.

Donald Trump – 00:05:59-00:06:39 (40 sec)

Being in its presence just has not been good and it should not go through a process of rebuilding and occupation by the same people that have really stood there and fought for it and lived there and died there and lived a miserable existence there. Instead, we should go to other countries of interest with humanitarian hearts, and there are many of them that want to do this and build various domains that will ultimately be occupied by the 1.8 million Palestinians living in Gaza, ending the death and destruction and frankly bad luck.

Donald Trump – 00:06:39-00:07:00 (21 sec)

This can be paid for by neighboring countries of great wealth. It could be one, two, three, four, five, seven, eight, twelve. It could be numerous sites, or it could be one large site. But the people will be able to live in comfort and peace and we’ll get — we’ll make sure something really spectacular is done.

Donald Trump – 00:07:00-00:07:24 (24 sec)

They’re going to have peace; they’re not going to be shot at and killed and destroyed like this civilization of wonderful people has had to endure. The only reason the Palestinians want to go back to Gaza is they have no alternative. It’s right now a demolition site. This is just a demolition site. Virtually every building is down.

Donald Trump – 00:07:24-00:07:46 (22 sec)

They’re living under fallen concrete that’s very dangerous and very precarious. They instead can occupy all of a beautiful area with homes and safety and they can live out their lives in peace and harmony instead of having to go back and do it again. The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too.

Donald Trump – 00:07:46-00:08:10 (23 sec)

We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out. Create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area. Do a real job, do something different.

Donald Trump – 00:08:10-00:08:34 (24 sec)

Just can’t go back. If you go back, it’s going to end up the same way it has for 100 years. I’m hopeful that this ceasefire could be the beginning of a larger and more enduring peace that will end the bloodshed and killing once and for all. With the same goal in mind, my administration has been moving quickly to restore trust in the alliance and rebuild American strength throughout the region and we’ve really done that.

Donald Trump – 00:08:34-00:09:08 (34 sec)

We’re a respected nation again. A lot has happened in the last couple of weeks. We are actually a very respected nation again. I ended the last administration’s de facto arms embargo on over $1 billion, in military assistance for Israel. And I’m also pleased to announce that this afternoon, the United States withdrew from the anti-Semitic UN Human Rights Council and ended all of the support for the UN Relief and Works Agency, which funneled money to Hamas, and which was very disloyal to humanity.

Donald Trump – 00:09:08-00:09:30 (23 sec)

Today, I also took action to restore a maximum pressure policy on the Iranian regime and we will once again enforce the most aggressive possible sanctions, drive Iranian oil exports to zero and diminish the regime’s capacity to fund terror throughout the region and throughout the world. We had no threat when I left office.

Donald Trump – 00:09:30-00:09:44 (13 sec)

Iran was not able to sell oil. Nobody was buying oil because I said don’t buy it. If you buy it, you’re not doing any business with the United States. And Hamas was not being funded.

Donald Trump – 00:09:44-00:10:09 (26 sec)

Hezbollah was not being funded. Nobody was being funded. There would never have been an October 7th. Two weeks ago, I once again designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization. They’re trying to destroy world shipping lanes. And that’s not going to happen. And over the weekend, I ordered airstrikes against senior ISIS leaders hiding in the caves of Somalia, and took them out.

Donald Trump – 00:10:09-00:10:30 (20 sec)

Here in America, we’ve begun the process of deporting foreign terrorists, jihadists and Hamas sympathizers from our soil just as we have people that are extremely evil. And we’re sending them out of our country. They came from jails. They came from mental institutions and insane asylums. And they were dumped into our country.

Donald Trump – 00:10:30-00:10:55 (26 sec)

They’re gang members. And we’re getting them out at numbers that nobody can actually believe. And every single country is taking those people back. They said they would never take them back. And they’re all taking them back. And they’re taking them back very gladly. And I recently signed an executive order combating the vile wave of antisemitism that we’ve seen in the aftermath of the October 7th, attacks.

Donald Trump – 00:10:55-00:11:16 (21 sec)

Together, America and Israel will renew the optimism that shines so brightly. Just four years ago, it was really a bright, beautiful light. We will restore calm and stability to the region and expand prosperity opportunity and hope to our nations and for all people of the Middle East, including the Arab and Muslim nations.

Donald Trump – 00:11:16-00:11:35 (19 sec)

Very important. We want the Arab and Muslim nations to have peace and have tranquility and have great lives. I’d like to now invite Prime Minister Netanyahu to say a few words. And we’ll take some questions afterwards. Thank you, very much.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:11:35-00:12:09 (34 sec)

Thank you, Mr. President. I’m honored that you invited me to be the first foreign leader to visit the White House in your second term. This is a testament to testament to your friendship and support for the Jewish state and the Jewish people. I’ve said this before, I’ll say it again. You are the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:12:09-00:12:33 (24 sec)

And that’s why the people of Israel have such enormous respect for you. In your first term, you recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. You moved the American embassy there. You recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. You withdrew from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal. I remember when we spoke about it and you said this is the worst deal I’ve ever seen.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:12:33-00:12:55 (21 sec)

I’m elected. I’m walking out of it. That’s exactly what you did. And I think it — it speaks loudly for just common sense. Just looking at things and seeing them as they are. And of course, you also brokered the groundbreaking Abraham Accords in which Israel made peace with four Arab states. We did this in four months.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:12:55-00:13:19 (24 sec)

Nothing happened for a quarter of a century. But in four months, we were able working together under your leadership to have four historic peace accords. And now, now in the first days of your second term, you picked up right where you left off. Your leadership helped bring our hostages home. Among them, American citizens.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:13:19-00:13:52 (33 sec)

You freed up munitions that have been withheld from Israel, they had been withheld from Israel in the midst of a seven front war for our existence. And you just freed it. You ended unjust sanctions against law abiding Israeli citizens. You boldly confronted the scourge of antisemitism. You stopped funding, as you just said, international organizations like UNRWA that support and fund terrorists.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:13:52-00:14:25 (33 sec)

And today, you renewed the maximum pressure campaign against Iran. Ladies and gentlemen, all this in just two weeks. [Laughter] Can we imagine where we’ll be in four years? I can. I know you can, Mr. President. For our part, we in Israel have been pretty busy too. Since the horrendous October 7th attack, we’ve been fighting our common enemies and changing the face of the Middle East.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:14:25-00:15:00 (36 sec)

On that infamous day, Hamas monsters savage — savagely murdered 1200 innocent people, including more than 40 Americans. They beheaded men. They raped women. They burned babies alive. And they took 251 people hostage to the dungeons of Gaza. And after this worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust, Iran and its henchmen in the Middle East were absolutely ecstatic.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:15:00-00:15:30 (30 sec)

Haniyeh praised the massacre. Sinwar said that Israel was finished. Nasrallah boasted that Israel was — here’s what he said, “is feeble as a spider’s web.” Well, Mr. President, Haniya is gone. Sinwar is gone. Nasrallah is gone. We’ve devastated Hamas. We decimated Hezbollah. We destroyed Assad’s remaining armaments.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:15:30-00:16:01 (31 sec)

And we crippled Iran’s air defenses. And in doing this, we’ve defeated some of America’s worst enemies. We took out terrorists who were wanted for decades for shedding rivers of American blood, including the blood of 241 Marines murdered in Beirut. We accomplished all this with the indomitable spirit of our people and the boundless courage of our soldiers.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:16:01-00:16:31 (30 sec)

The Bible says that the people of Israel shall rise like lions. And boy, did we rise. Today, the roar of the Lion of Judah is heard loudly throughout the Middle East. Israel has never been stronger. And the Iran terror axis has never been weaker. But as we discussed, Mr. President, to secure our future and bring peace to our region, we have to finish the job.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:16:31-00:17:02 (31 sec)

In Gaza, Israel has three goals, destroy Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, secure the release of all of our hostages and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel. I believe, Mr. President, that your willingness to puncture conventional thinking, thinking that has failed time and time and time again, your willingness to think outside the box with fresh ideas will help us achieve all these goals.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:17:02-00:17:29 (26 sec)

And I’ve seen you do this many times. You cut to the chase. You see things others refuse to see. You say things others refuse to say. And then, after the jaws drop, people scratch their heads. And they say, you know, he’s right. And this is the kind of thinking that enabled us to bring the Abraham Accords.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:17:29-00:17:53 (25 sec)

This is the kind of thinking that will reshape the Middle East and bring peace. We also, we also see eye to eye on Iran. That’s the same Iran that tried to kill us both. They tried to kill you, Mr. President. And they tried through their proxies to kill me. We’re both committed to rolling back Iran’s aggression in the region and ensuring that Iran never develops a nuclear weapon.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:17:53-00:18:20 (26 sec)

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, Israel will end the war by winning the war. Israel’s victory will be America’s victory. We will not only win the war. Working together, we will win the peace. With your leadership, Mr. President and our partnership, I believe that we will forge a brilliant future for our region and bring our great alliance to even greater heights.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:18:20-00:18:20 (1 sec)

Thank you.

Donald Trump – 00:18:20-00:18:46 (25 sec)

Thank you very much, Bibi. Very nice. Thank you. And JD Vance, everybody. JD, please, vice president, stand up. He’s been doing a good job. He’s been working very hard on all things, but this in particular. We’ll take some questions, please. Yes, ma’am, go ahead. Please. Go ahead. Yeah, go ahead.

Question

00:18:46-00:19:06 (20 sec)

Mr. President, can a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia be achieved without the acknowledgment of a Palestinian state? That question for you, too, Mr. Prime Minister. And Mr. President, given what you’ve said about Gaza, did the US send troops to help secure the security vacuum?

Donald Trump – 00:19:06-00:19:29 (24 sec)

So, Saudi Arabia is going to be very helpful. And they have been very helpful. They want peace in the Middle East. It’s very simple. Uh, we know their leader and their leaders very well. They are wonderful people. And they want peace in the Middle East. As far as Gaza is concerned, we will do what is necessary.

Donald Trump – 00:19:29-00:19:42 (13 sec)

If it’s necessary, we’ll do that. We’re going to take over that peace and we’re going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs. And it will be something that the entire Middle East can be very proud of.

Donald Trump – 00:19:42-00:20:21 (39 sec)

But everybody feels that continuing the same process that’s gone on forever over and over again and then it starts and then the killing starts, and all of the other problems start, and you end up in the same place and we don’t want to see that happen. So, by the United States, with its stability and strength, owning it, especially the strength that we’re developing and developed over the last fairly short period of time, I would say really since the election, I think we’ll be a great keeper of something that is very, very strong, very powerful and very, very good for the area, not just for Israel, for the entire Middle East.

Donald Trump – 00:20:21-00:20:34 (13 sec)

It’s very important and we’ll again have thousands of jobs. And there will be jobs for everyone, not for a specific group of people, but for everybody. OK? Please.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:20:34-00:20:45 (12 sec)

I think peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not only feasible, I think it’s going to happen. I think if we had another half a year in your first term, it would have already happened.

Donald Trump – 00:20:45-00:20:50 (4 sec)

It’s true. Many, many more, I agree, many more nations.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:20:50-00:21:07 (18 sec)

I think you can’t prejudge and pre-guess how we’ll achieve it. But I’m committed to achieving it and I know the president is committed to achieving it, and I think the Saudi leadership is interested to achieve it. So, we’ll give it a good shot and I think we’ll succeed.

Donald Trump – 00:21:07-00:21:08 (1 sec)

Yeah, please go ahead.

Question

00:21:08-00:21:26 (18 sec)

First of all, President Trump, did you hear from Prime Minister Netanyahu [Inaudible] guarantees that the ceasefire will go on, including Phase 2? And Prime Minister Netanyahu, for you. Why are you refusing to set up a national commission to investigate the failure of the project?

Donald Trump – 00:21:26-00:21:51 (24 sec)

Well, I can’t tell you whether or not the ceasefire will hold. We’ve done I think a very masterful job. We weren’t helped very much by the Biden administration. I can tell you that. But we’ve gotten quite a few hostages out. We’re going to get more out. But we’re dealing with very complex people, and we are going to see whether or not it holds.

Donald Trump – 00:21:51-00:22:10 (19 sec)

We certainly want to have more come out. They’ve come out damaged in many ways, damaged, very damaged people. But they’re going to get better and they’re going to be strong and they’re going to have a good life. And we hope to get as many as possible out. Whether or not it holds, I don’t know. We hope it holds.

Donald Trump – 00:22:10-00:22:10 (1 sec)

We hope it holds.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:22:10-00:22:36 (26 sec)

I think that at the appropriate time, which I think will enable us to really investigate what happened, what were the causes of the failures by an independent commission that will be accepted by the majority of the people. We don’t want it accepted by one half of the people and not the other. I think we should have it, and we should find out exactly what happened.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:22:36-00:22:42 (5 sec)

I’m insisting on it, and believe me, it will surprise a lot of people when it happens.

Donald Trump – 00:22:42-00:22:44 (2 sec)

Kelly — Kelly, go ahead, please.

Question

00:22:44-00:23:07 (22 sec)

Mr. President, you are outlining something that is really quite striking. You are talking about — OK, thank you. Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, you are talking tonight about the United States taking over a sovereign territory. What authority would allow you to do that? Are you talking about a permanent occupation there, redevelopment?

Question

00:23:07-00:23:26 (19 sec)

And Mr. Prime Minister, do you see this idea as a way to expand the boundaries of Israel and to have a longer peace, even though the Israeli people know how important that land is to you and your citizens just as the space is inherited by the Palestinians as well?

Donald Trump – 00:23:26-00:23:53 (27 sec)

I do see a long-term ownership position and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East, and maybe the entire Middle East. And everybody I’ve spoken to — this was not a decision made lightly. Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent in a really magnificent area that nobody would know.

Donald Trump – 00:23:53-00:24:05 (12 sec)

Nobody can look because all they see is death and destruction and rubble and demolished buildings falling all over. It’s just a terrible, terrible sight. I’ve studied it —

Note

00:24:05-00:24:05 ( sec)

[Crosstalk]

Donald Trump – 00:24:05-00:24:25 (21 sec)

I’ve studied this very closely over a lot of months, and I’ve seen it from every different angle. And it’s a very, very dangerous place to be and it’s only going to get worse. And I think this is an idea that’s gotten tremendous — and I’m talking about from the highest level of leadership, gotten tremendous praise.

Donald Trump – 00:24:25-00:24:34 (8 sec)

And if the United States can help to bring stability and peace in the Middle East, we’ll do that. Bibi?

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:24:34-00:24:48 (15 sec)

I mentioned again tonight our three goals and the third goal is to make sure that Gaza never poses a threat to Israel again. President Trump is taking it to a much higher level. He sees a different —

Note

00:24:48-00:24:48 ( sec)

[Crosstalk]

Donald Trump – 00:24:48-00:25:14 (26 sec)

— he sees a different future for that piece of land that has been the focus of so much terrorism, so much — so many attacks against us. So, many trials and so many tribulations. He has a different idea, and I think it’s worth paying attention to this. We’re talking about it, he’s exploring it with his people, with his staff.

Donald Trump – 00:25:14-00:25:21 (6 sec)

I think it’s something that could change history and it’s worthwhile really pursuing this avenue.

Donald Trump – 00:25:21-00:25:23 (2 sec)

Yeah, please, go ahead. Go ahead.

Question

00:25:23-00:25:27 (4 sec)

Mr. President, a question for you. Can you hear me?

Donald Trump – 00:25:27-00:25:27 (1 sec)

Yeah.

Question

00:25:27-00:25:45 (17 sec)

So, before rebuilding Gaza again and obviously [Inaudible] all the hostages, and one of them is Kevin [Inaudible], an American soldier, who is alive. How will you be sure that you will take out all the hostages and then rebuild?

Donald Trump – 00:25:45-00:26:18 (33 sec)

We’re working very hard to get all the hostages. The word is all, and we are working very hard. So far, it’s been moving along fairly rapidly, pretty much on schedule. I’d love to have them all out at one time, but we’re taking them out and tomorrow more are being released and over the days more and then we’ll go into a Phase 2. But we’d like to get all of the hostages, and if we don’t, it will just make us somewhat more violent, I will tell you that, because they would have broken their word.

Donald Trump – 00:26:18-00:26:34 (16 sec)

Mr. Witkoff and his entire group have been working 24 hours around the clock, and they want them out. And promises have been made to them, and we’ll see whether or not those promises will be kept. But we want all the hostages, that’s right.

Question

00:26:34-00:26:46 (12 sec)

How much time you think it will take? Mr. President, do you support Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria areas, which many believe is the biblical homeland of the Jewish people?

Donald Trump – 00:26:46-00:27:05 (19 sec)

Well, we’re discussing that with many of your representatives. You’re represented very well, and people do like the idea, but we haven’t taken a position on it yet. But we will be — we’ll be making an announcement probably on that very specific topic over the next four weeks.

Note

00:27:05-00:27:05 ( sec)

[Crosstalk]

Donald Trump – 00:27:05-00:27:10 (5 sec)

Go ahead, please, please.

Question

00:27:10-00:27:25 (15 sec)

Thank you so much, Mr. President. So, you just said — OK. You just said that you think all the Palestinians should be relocated to other countries. Does that mean that you do not support the two-state solution?

Donald Trump – 00:27:25-00:27:48 (23 sec)

It doesn’t mean anything about a two-state or a one-state or any other state. It means that we want to have — we want to give people a chance at life. They have never had a chance at life because the Gaza Strip has been a hellhole for people living there. It’s been horrible. Hamas has made it so bad, so bad, so dangerous, so unfair to people.

Donald Trump – 00:27:48-00:28:08 (20 sec)

And by doing what I’m recommending that we do, it’s a very strong recommendation, but it is a strong recommendation. By doing that we think we’re going to bring perhaps great peace to long beyond this area. And I have to stress, this is not for Israel, this is for everybody in the Middle East — Arabs, Muslims — this is for everybody.

Donald Trump – 00:28:08-00:28:26 (18 sec)

This would be where they can partake in terms of jobs and living and all of the other benefits. And I think it’s very important. It just doesn’t work the other way. You can’t keep trying. They just — has been going along for so many decades you can’t even count. You just can’t keep doing — you have to learn from history.

Donald Trump – 00:28:26-00:28:47 (21 sec)

You can’t keep doing the same mistake over and over again. Gaza is a hellhole right now. It was before the bombing started frankly. And we’re going to give people a chance to live in a beautiful community that’s safe and secure. And I think you’re going to see tremendous — a tremendous outflowing of support.

Donald Trump – 00:28:47-00:28:59 (12 sec)

I can tell you, I spoke to other leaders of countries in the Middle East and they love the idea. They say it would really bring stability and what we need is stability. Yes, sir, please. Go ahead.

Question

00:28:59-00:29:21 (22 sec)

Thank you. Are you still committed to imposing sanctions on the ICC despite the move being stalled in the Senate? And please, a question for the prime minister as well. The president has been very clear about his desire to achieve a deal with Saudi Arabia. How do you settle this if Israel is required to renew the war against Hamas in the future?

Donald Trump – 00:29:21-00:29:25 (3 sec)

Go ahead, Bibi.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:29:25-00:29:46 (22 sec)

I think everybody understands that, just as the president fought and defeated al-Qaida and ISIS, that we can’t leave Hamas there because Hamas will continue the battle to destroy Israel. They’ll do — you know, in this temporary ceasefire, one of their leaders comes out. You know what he says?

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:29:46-00:30:13 (26 sec)

We’re going to do October 7th, again, except we’ll do it bigger. So, obviously, you can’t talk about peace, uh, neither with Hamas or in the Middle East, if this, you know, toxic murderous organization is left standing any more that you could make peace in Europe after World War II, if the Nazi regime was left standing and the Nazi army was left standing.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:30:13-00:30:27 (14 sec)

You want a different future you’ve got to knock out the people who want to destroy you and destroy peace. That’s what we’re going to do. I think that will also bring, usher in actually, the peace with Saudi Arabia and with others. And I think there will be others too.

Donald Trump – 00:30:27-00:30:28 (1 sec)

Yes, ma’am, go ahead.

Question

00:30:28-00:30:45 (17 sec)

Mr. President, I am from Afghanistan. My name is Nazira Karimi. I am an Afghan suffered woman who has high expectations from you, do we have any plan to change Afghanistan’s situation? Are you able to recognize Taliban? Because I’m an Afghan journalist, Afghan suffered woman. Any comment about Afghanistan?

Question

00:30:45-00:30:48 (3 sec)

What’s your future plan toward Afghan people, especially Afghanistan? Thank you.

Donald Trump – 00:30:48-00:30:52 (4 sec)

I have a little hard time understanding you. Where are you from?

Question

00:30:52-00:30:53 (1 sec)

Afghanistan.

Donald Trump – 00:30:53-00:30:54 (1 sec)

Oh.

Question

00:30:54-00:30:54 ( sec)

[Inaudible]

Donald Trump – 00:30:54-00:31:09 (15 sec)

Actually it’s a beautiful voice and a beautiful accent. The only problem is, I can’t understand a word you’re saying. [Laughter] But — but I’d just say this, good luck. Live in peace. Go ahead, please.

Question

00:31:09-00:31:12 (4 sec)

[Inaudible] Thank you. Thank you. Mr. President?

Donald Trump – 00:31:12-00:31:15 (3 sec)

That’s OK. Yeah. Please.

Question

00:31:15-00:31:20 (5 sec)

And Prime Minister. You said earlier today that it was tough for you to implement these sanctions on Iran.

Donald Trump – 00:31:20-00:31:20 ( sec)

Yeah.

Question

00:31:20-00:31:28 (8 sec)

But you did indicate that you were willing to negotiate with them. What would that look like? And are you in conversations with them? And the same for the prime minister, sir?

Donald Trump – 00:31:28-00:31:49 (21 sec)

Yeah. I hated doing it. I want Iran to be peaceful and successful. I hated doing it. I did it once before. And we brought them down to a level where they were unable to give any money. They had to survive themselves. And they had no money. They were essentially broke. And they had no money for, as I said, Hezbollah.

Donald Trump – 00:31:49-00:32:22 (32 sec)

They had no money for Hamas. They had no money for any form of terror. The 28 — if you call it the 28 Sites of Terror, they had no money for any of it. They had to do their own and focus on their own well-being. And I hated to do it then. And I hate it — I hate to do it just as much now. And I say this and I say this to Iran who is listening very intently, I would love to be able to make a great deal, a deal where you can get on with your lives and you’ll do wonderfully.

Donald Trump – 00:32:22-00:32:49 (27 sec)

You’ll do wonderfully. Incredible people. Industrious, beautiful, just an unbelievable group of people in Iran. And I know them well. I have many friends from Iran and many friends that are Americans from Iran. And they’re very proud of Iran. But I hated to do it just so you understand. And I hope we’re going to be able to do something so that it doesn’t end up in a very catastrophic situation.

Donald Trump – 00:32:49-00:32:52 (3 sec)

don’t want to see that happen. I want to see —

Unidentified

00:32:52-00:32:52 ( sec)

[Inaudible]

Donald Trump – 00:32:52-00:33:13 (21 sec)

I — I really want to see peace. And I hope that we’re able to do that. They cannot have a nuclear weapon. It’s very simple. I’m not putting restrictions. I’m not — they cannot have one thing. They cannot have a nuclear weapon. And if I think that they will have a nuclear weapon, despite what I just said, I think that’s going to be very unfortunate for them.

Donald Trump – 00:33:13-00:33:24 (11 sec)

If on the other hand, they can convince us that they won’t, and I hope they can. It’s very easy to do. It’s actually very easy to do. I think they’re going to have an unbelievable future. Yeah, please, sir.

Unidentified

00:33:24-00:33:24 ( sec)

[Inaudible]

Donald Trump – 00:33:24-00:33:25 (1 sec)

Go ahead.

Question

00:33:25-00:33:29 (4 sec)

Thank you, Mr. President. You just laid out your plan for Gaza.

Donald Trump – 00:33:29-00:33:30 (1 sec)

Yes.

Question

00:33:30-00:33:34 (4 sec)

Can you lay out your plan for Ukraine? And also —

Donald Trump – 00:33:34-00:33:35 (1 sec)

For Ukraine?

Question

00:33:35-00:33:50 (15 sec)

For Ukraine, yes. Uh, you consider yourself a strong leader. You blame your predecessor for letting Russia to take over Ukraine. Will you demand from Putin to get out of Ukraine from sovereign territory of Ukraine?

Donald Trump – 00:33:50-00:34:09 (20 sec)

So we’re dealing, right now, on the subject. I don’t want to spend a lot of time because we’re here for another reason. But we are having very good talks, very constructive talks on Ukraine. And we are talking to the Russians. We’re talking to the Ukrainian leadership. It would have never happened, that would have never happened, it should have never happened.

Donald Trump – 00:34:09-00:34:36 (27 sec)

I get reports every week, the number of soldiers, mostly soldiers now, the cities have been largely demolished. You talk about a — a very sad sight to see, we talk Gaza, well, many of these cities look as bad as Gaza and worse, what’s happened to them. And I want to see that end. And I want to see it end for one simple reason, the life of young people being absolutely obliterated on both sides.

Donald Trump – 00:34:36-00:34:57 (21 sec)

You probably have 700,000 Ukrainian soldiers dead, 800,000, maybe more Russian soldiers dead. It’s very flat land. And the only thing that’s going to stop a bullet is a human body. In this case, usually soldiers. And the numbers are staggering when you hear the real numbers in Ukraine, what — what the numbers are.

Donald Trump – 00:34:57-00:35:16 (19 sec)

And this doesn’t include the cities that have been demolished and all of the people that were killed. So, I want to see it stopped. We’re having very good talks. And I think we’re going to get it. I think something will be — hopefully dramatically it will — it will rise above everything. And you have to. You can’t let this continue.

Donald Trump – 00:35:16-00:35:28 (12 sec)

You can’t. This is an absolute slaughter that’s taking place on the beautiful farmlands of Ukraine. And we have to stop it. We can’t let this continue. It’s — it’s a human —

Unidentified

00:35:28-00:35:28 ( sec)

[Inaudible]

Donald Trump – 00:35:28-00:35:30 (2 sec)

It’s — it’s a human —

Unidentified

00:35:30-00:35:30 ( sec)

[Inaudible]

Donald Trump – 00:35:30-00:35:31 (1 sec)

It’s a human —

Unidentified

00:35:31-00:35:31 ( sec)

[Inaudible]

Donald Trump – 00:35:31-00:35:35 (4 sec)

It is — it is a human tragedy. And we’re going to try very hard to stop it.

Unidentified

00:35:35-00:35:35 ( sec)

[Inaudible]

Donald Trump – 00:35:35-00:35:38 (3 sec)

Yeah, please go ahead, sir. Go ahead.

Unidentified

00:35:38-00:35:38 ( sec)

[Inaudible]

Question

00:35:38-00:35:57 (19 sec)

Thank you very much. OK. Mr. President, what’s your view about Palestinian Leader Abbas role in all the regional changes you want to do? And the question for the prime minister, what’s your view on President Trump wanting to reach a deal with Iran and not a much more active military stance towards them?

Donald Trump – 00:35:57-00:35:59 (2 sec)

Go ahead, Bibi. Go ahead.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:35:59-00:36:23 (24 sec)

I think the president just said something that, I think, is the pivot of everything that we’re talking about. He said, “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.” And we fully agree with that. If this goal can be achieved by a maximum pressure campaign, so be it. But I think the most important thing is to focus on the goal, which the president just did.

Benjamin Netanyahu

00:36:23-00:36:24 (1 sec)

And I fully agree with.

Question

00:36:24-00:36:26 (1 sec)

Mr. President — President Trump —

Donald Trump – 00:36:26-00:36:33 (7 sec)

Well, I said it and he said it very well, it’s — it’s a — it’s a —

Unidentified

00:36:33-00:36:33 ( sec)

[Inaudible]

Donald Trump – 00:36:33-00:36:56 (24 sec)

It’s a campaign of pressure to see if we can get something done. Uh, he doesn’t want to do what some people think will automatically happen. Because they’re very difficult people to deal with, as you know. But if we could solve this problem without warfare, without all of the things that you’ve been witnessing over the last number of years, it would be — I think it would be a tremendous thing.

Unidentified

00:36:56-00:36:56 ( sec)

[Inaudible]

Donald Trump – 00:36:56-00:36:57 ( sec)

Go ahead, please.

Question

00:36:57-00:37:04 (7 sec)

Sir, do you have any plans to visit Israel? Do you have any plans to visit Israel soon?

Donald Trump – 00:37:04-00:37:05 (1 sec)

To visit where?

Question

00:37:05-00:37:06 (1 sec)

Israel?

Question

00:37:06-00:37:07 (1 sec)

And Gaza?

Donald Trump – 00:37:07-00:37:31 (24 sec)

Oh, well, I love — I love Israel. I will visit there. And I’ll visit Gaza. And I’ll visit Saudi Arabia. And I’ll visit other places all over the Middle East. The Middle East is an incredible place, so vibrant so — so — it’s just one of the really beautiful places. And with great people. And I think a lot of bad leadership has taken place in the Middle East that has allowed this to happen.

Donald Trump – 00:37:31-00:37:52 (20 sec)

It’s just terrible. And that includes on the American side, by the way. We should have never gone in there a long time ago, spent trillions of dollars and created so much death. So it includes Americans. But yeah, I’ll be visiting a lot of different places in the Middle East. I’ve been invited everywhere, but I will be visiting some, yeah.

Donald Trump – 00:37:52-00:37:52 ( sec)

OK.

Unidentified

00:37:52-00:37:52 ( sec)

[Inaudible]

Donald Trump – 00:37:52-00:37:58 (6 sec)

Let’s go. Caitlin? Go ahead, Caitlin. Caitlin, go ahead.

Question

00:37:58-00:38:01 (2 sec)

President Trump, just follow up on —

Donald Trump – 00:38:01-00:38:02 (1 sec)

Say it — go ahead, please.

Question

00:38:02-00:38:15 (12 sec)

Just a follow up on what you were saying about the Gazans leaving Gaza going to other countries. One, where exactly are you suggesting that they should go? And two, are you saying they should return after it’s rebuilt? And if not, who do you envision living there?

Donald Trump – 00:38:15-00:38:34 (20 sec)

I envision a world — people living there, the world’s people. I think you’ll make that into an international, unbelievable place. I think the potential in the Gaza Strip is unbelievable. And I think the entire world, representatives from all over the world will be there and they’ll —

Question

00:38:34-00:38:35 (1 sec)

[Inaudible] Palestinians?

Donald Trump – 00:38:35-00:38:56 (21 sec)

And they’ll live there. Palestinians also. Palestinians will live there, many people will live there. But they’ve tried the other and they’ve tried it for decades and decades and decades. It’s not going to work it work. It didn’t work. It will never work. And you have to learn from history. History has — you know, you just can’t let it keep repeating itself.

Donald Trump – 00:38:56-00:39:08 (12 sec)

We have an opportunity to do something that could be phenomenal. And I don’t want to be cute. I don’t want to be a wise guy. But the Riviera of the Middle East, this could be something that could be so —

Question

00:39:08-00:39:08 ( sec)

[Inaudible]

Donald Trump – 00:39:08-00:39:27 (19 sec)

This could be so magnificent. But more importantly than that is the people that have been absolutely destroyed that live there now can live in peace in a much better situation because they are living in hell. And those people will now be able to live in peace. We’ll make sure that it’s done world class.

Question

00:39:27-00:39:27 ( sec)

[Inaudible]

Donald Trump – 00:39:27-00:39:52 (25 sec)

It will be wonderful for the people. Palestinians, Palestinians mostly we’re talking about. And I have a feeling that despite them saying no, I have a feeling that the king in Jordan and that the general president — but that the general in Egypt will open their hearts and will give us the kind of land that we need to get this done, and people can live in harmony and in peace.

Donald Trump – 00:39:52-00:40:05 (13 sec)

Thank you all, very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Saudi Arabia, in swift response to Trump, says no ties with Israel without Palestinian state

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-
Saudi Arabia said it would not establish ties with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state, contradicting President Donald Trump’s claim that Riyadh was not demanding a Palestinian homeland when he said the U.S. wants to take over the Gaza Strip.
In a shocking announcement, Trump said on Tuesday the United States would take over the war-ravaged enclave after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere and develop it economically. He was speaking at a joint press conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Saudi Arabia rejects any attempts to displace the Palestinians from their land, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that its stance towards the Palestinians is not negotiable.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has affirmed the kingdom’s position in ‘a clear and explicit manner’ that does not allow for any interpretation under any circumstances, the statement said.
Any proposed displacement of Palestinians is a highly sensitive matter among both Palestinians and Arab countries.
As fighting raged in the Gaza war, Palestinians feared they would suffer from another “Nakba”, or catastrophe, the time when hundreds of thousands were dispossessed of their homes in the war at the birth of the state of Israel.
When it comes to Saudi policy in the Middle East, the stakes are high for both Trump and Israel.
The United States had led months of diplomacy to get Saudi Arabia, one of the most powerful and influential Arab states, to normalise ties with Israel and recognise the country.
But the Gaza war, which began in October 2023, led Riyadh to shelve the matter in the face of Arab anger over Israel’s offensive.
Trump would like Saudi Arabia to follow in the footsteps of countries like the United Arab Emirates, a Middle East trade and business hub, and Bahrain which signed the so-called Abraham Accords in 2020 and normalised ties with Israel.
In doing so, they became the first Arab states in a quarter century to break a longstanding taboo.
Establishing ties with Saudi Arabia would be a grand prize for Israel because the kingdom has vast influence in the Middle East, the wider Muslim world, and it is the world’s biggest oil exporter.

Mahmoud Abbas opposes Trump’s solution for Gaza

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

FILE PHOTO: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas adjusts his glasses as he listens during a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured), in the West Bank city of Ramallah, May 25, 2021. Alex Brandon/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday responded to US President Donald Trump’s proposal that the US control Gaza and encourage permanent emigration of its residents.

“We will never allow harm to our nation’s rights, for which we have fought for many decades, and for which we have sacrificed much to fulfill,” he said.

“These statements express a gross violation of international law, and the peace and stability in the region will not be accomplished without the founding of a Palestinian state with eastern Jerusalem as its capital, within the borders of June 4, 1967, on the basis of a two-state solution.”

Abbas also stressed that, “The Palestinian nation will never give up on its land, rights, and holy places, and that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the land of the State of Palestine, alongside the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem which is occupied since 1967.”

“The Palestinians’ legitimate rights are not up for negotiation, and the Palestine Liberation Organization is the legitimate and only representative of the Palestinian nation, and no one else has the right to make decisions about the future of the Palestinian nation.”

Abbas also called on United Nations Secretary General António Guterres and the UN Security Council to “take responsibility and act urgently to protect the Palestinian nation and preserve its rights, including the right to self-determination and remaining in their homeland.

New Regavim Video Exposes the Destruction of the Judean Desert Ecosystem

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

Tractors instead of gazelles, cement bags instead of rock hyraxes: This is what the Wye- designated nature reserve in the Judean Desert looks like after years of destruction and massive illegal construction by the Palestinian Authority.

*Regavim: “The Judean Desert has more concrete than mountain goats – a dubious achievement, courtesy of the Palestinian Authority. In a historic move, the State of Israel has reclaimed enforcement in the reserve. We expect – we demand – substantial action to restore the fragile desert ecosystem, which has suffered too long from the Palestinian Authority’s rampant illegal construction.”*

The Regavim Movement, in collaboration with the Gush Etzion and Har Hebron Regional Councils, released a video this morning highlighting the harsh reality of the nature reserve placed under jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority in the context of the Wye River Agreement (part 3 of the Oslo Accords). The film, a parody of National Geographic-style nature documentaries, was produced in an effort to increase pressure on law enforcement authorities to save and rehabilitate the nature reserve. The video shows the desert landscape trampled by massive construction, extensive roadworks and infrastructure development, illustrating the absurdity of a reality where concrete structures grow in place of desert flora and fauna.

The “National Catastrophic” satirical documentary is Regavim’s response to the decision taken this past June by Israel’s Political and Security Cabinet, restoring Israeli enforcement in the Nature Reserve in light of the Palestinian Authority’s massive violations of the Wye Agreement and decimation of the unique desert ecosystem. Following this decision, Major General Avi Blut signed implementation orders and, last month, the first targeted enforcement action was taken against illegal construction elements erected after the order was signed.

Nonetheless, in the weeks after this enforcement action, Regavim’s field coordinators documented new development and construction work in the northern part of the reserve, near Nahal Kidron, as well as massive construction in the southern part, near the village of A-Zwadin, including road paving, electrical infrastructure and construction of multi-story structures.

Moshe Shmueli, Field Coordinator for Regavim: “There is no vacuum. Wherever Israeli authorities are absent, hostile elements fill the void. After too many years of systematic destruction of the Judean Desert’s natural resources, there’s no time to lose – we must correct this immediately.”

Yaron Rosenthal, Head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council: “The Judean Desert is being systematically destroyed by the Palestinian Authority, with little response from environmental groups. We, who cherish the desert, and the nature, our environment and the Land of Israel, are committed to countering this damage and safeguarding our desert from further harm.”

Eliram Azoulai, Head of the Har Hebron Regional Council: “At this very moment, the Judean Desert is under assault. Illegal construction is both an environmental and a security risk. I urge the Defense Minister to take swift action to stop the illegal activity in the nature reserve and IDF firing zones. We are committed to preserving this beautiful landscape and ensuring the safety of our communities.”

 

Witkoff Meets PLO Leader Who Vowed to Spend “Last Penny” Financing Terror

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

Fresh from his success of implementing the Biden plan and saving Hamas, Steven Witkoff, acting as Trump’s Middle East Envoy, went to Saudi Arabia, homeland of the 9/11 hijackers, and met with a top PLO leader.

Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the PLO Executive Committee and head of the General Authority of Civil Affairs, who is apparently the leading candidate to replace ‘Abbas,

The meeting between Witkoff and Hussein al-Sheikh took place amid efforts by the Trump administration to end the war in Gaza and push for a Saudi-Israeli peace deal that includes a path toward a Palestinian state.

Hussein al-Sheikh isn’t just an Abbas adviser, he’s a possible successor to the aging PLO tyrant (or at least he was until he was recorded badmouthing Abbas) to run the Palestinian Authority.

And Al-Sheikh has a vision. Terror and more terror.

According to a MEMRI report, Sheikh claimed the Palestinians would spend every single dime they have on the so-called martyrs (dead terrorists) and their families as well as imprisoned terrorists.

Sheikh said, “I would like to reassure you of our firm and unwavering commitment: Our martyrs, prisoners, and their families are where we cross the line.”

He added, “Even if we have one penny left, it will be spent on the families of the martyrs and prisoners…They are our purest, most permanent, loftiest, and most precious jewel.”

In English, Al-Sheikh is referring to the ‘Pay-to-Slay’ program under which the PLO funds terror by providing payments to imprisoned terrorists or the families of dead terrorists.

Al-Sheikh also claimed that “our arms are open to” Hamas and bragged of the PLO’s role in defending the fellow Islamic terrorist group with which it had signed a unity agreement under the aegis of Communist China.

“Even as the world talked and demanded that Hamas be designated as a terror organization, who stood up the world? Was it not Abu Mazen who stood in front of the UN and declared, ‘No, Hamas is not a terror organization?’” al-Sheikh says, referring to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

“The real terrorism is the Israeli occupation. The real terrorism are the settlements. The real terrorism is the crime being committed against the Palestinian people. We’ve done our homework… and know very well what our priorities are and how to defend our internal front,” al-Sheikh adds.

The Saudis are proposing some sort of deal under which Al-Sheikh gets a terrorist state in Israel to run. Witkoff ought to be asked why he’s pulling America into nation-building terrorist states.

That’s not America First. That’s Jihad First.

Arab Language Expert: UNRWA-Funded Schools Label Israel a ‘Foreign Entity’ that Must be Removed Arab Language Expert: UNRWA-Funded Schools Label Israel a ‘Foreign Entity’ that Must be Removed Play Video Arab Language Expert: UNRWA-Funded Schools Label Israel a ‘Foreign Entity’ that Must be Removed

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

Israel has officially banned the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operating in eastern Jerusalem due to evidence that employees of UNWRA were also Hamas members. Some of them helped to carry out the October 7th massacre and used UNRWA facilities.

But UNRWA’s connection to violence and hatred of the Jews goes back decades before October 7th, 2023. Funded by Western nations, UNRWA has been involved in planting that hatred deep in the hearts and minds of Palestinian children and indoctrinating them to hate the Jewish people.

“If you say that Jews are enemies of God’s prophets, they are enemies of God,” Arab-language expert Dr. Groiss told CBN News. “In a traditional society like the Palestinian one, enemies of God should be killed. And if the Jews are also described as devil aides, so they are all devil’s aides, and this has had an impact on Palestinian kids’ minds.”

Groiss, of The Center for Near East Policy Research LTD., spent more than 30 years as an Arabic-language journalist. He has read and studied all the Palestinian Authority textbooks and teachers’ manuals from cover to cover. Those are the books used in UNRWA schools and taught by UNRWA teachers.

“If Israel took the Palestinian land and it’s a foreign entity, and Jews have no past in this country and no holy places, the Western Wall is an Islamic holy place – al-Buraq – there is no other way than to fight them and get them out of the country, by this way or another way. And this is what they teach the children in UNWRA schools,” Groiss stated.

To watch the full CBN News interview with Dr. Groiss, click here.

1...345...1,216Page 4 of 1,216

Column from the Director

David Bedein
David Bedein
2483 POSTS6 COMMENTS
Michael Kuttner
Michael Kuttner
442 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Rochel Grosz
Rochel Grosz
1 POSTS1 COMMENTS
daniel
daniel
0 POSTS0 COMMENTS
© A WEBstationONE.com production, partially funded by the Internet Development Fund and the IDF Link technology.

© 2003-2025 All rights reserved. Articles and Special Reports on IsraelBehindTheNews.com are copyrighted and may be republished any time and anywhere