Jerusalem, Dec 7: The United States has offered strong support to Israel in its war against the Hamas militant group that rules the Gaza Strip. But the allies are increasingly at odds over what will happen to Gaza once the war winds down.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, this week announced that Israel would retain an open-ended security presence in Gaza. Israeli officials talk of imposing a buffer zone to keep Palestinians away from the Israeli border.
They rule out any role for the Palestinian Authority, which was ousted from Gaza by Hamas in 2007 but governs semi-autonomous areas of the occupied West Bank. The United States has laid out a much different vision. Top officials have said they will not allow Israel to reoccupy Gaza or further shrink its already small territory. They have repeatedly called for a return of the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority and the resumption of peace talks aimed at establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel. These conflicting visions have set the stage for difficult discussions between Israel and the US.
The biggest differences between the allies have emerged over the longer-term vision for Gaza.
Netanyahu has offered only glimpses of what he plans. On Tuesday, he said the military would retain open-ended security control over the Gaza Strip long after the war ends, suggesting a form of extended Israeli occupation.
Netanyahu ruled out the idea of foreign peacekeepers, saying only the Israeli army could ensure that Gaza remains demilitarised. Netanyahu has also rejected a return of the Palestinian Authority, saying its leader, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas cannot be trusted.
“After destroying Hamas, Gaza will be demilitarised and de-radicalised so that no threat will be posed to Israel from Gaza,” said Ophir Falk, an adviser to Netanyahu.
“The buffer zone may be part of the demilitarization. That’s the plan.”
Israel told Western allies and regional neighbours about the buffer zone plans as recently as last week, without offering a detailed proposal, according to Egyptians officials and Arab and Western diplomats, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the topic. The officials said countries informed of the proposal include Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Two Egyptian officials said it appears that Israel doesn’t have a detailed workable plan for such a zone, including its width.
Biden and other top officials have repeatedly said that a “revitalised” Palestinian Authority must play a role in postwar Gaza and that Israel must seek a two-state solution involving the PA. They have ruled out a long-term re-occupation or redrawing of Gaza’s borders. (AP)
