US President Joe Biden said he believed further progress could be made in the Middle East, while US officials ruled out Israel making concessions in Gaza negotiations amid reports that the Prime Israeli Minister Benjamin Netanyahu awaits Donald Trump’s inauguration.
National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan previously confirmed that President Biden intended to begin working to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, through his envoys communicating with Turkey , Qatar and Egypt.
He added: “We believe this is the beginning of an opportunity for a more stable Middle East, where Israel’s security is guaranteed and the interests of the United States are guaranteed.”
The Times of Israel cited a U.S. official as saying the Biden administration was still considering steps before the end of the transition period to strengthen the two-state solution.
As for Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, he confirmed that Tel Aviv had received a promise that a Security Council resolution would not be adopted to recognize a Palestinian state during the transition period in America.
Israel ‘not interested’
At the same time, the New York Times cited Western officials as saying that Israel appeared uninterested in making concessions and remained skeptical of American and Arab ideas regarding the management of Gaza after the war.
The New York Times cited Western officials confirming that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is waiting for Trump to take office before changing his position on negotiations with Hamas, and that the movement is seeking to stay in power after reaching a peace deal. ceasefire.
Change the terms of the agreement
For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that after the assassination of Yahya Sinwar (head of the Hamas political bureau) and the separation of fronts between Gaza and Lebanon, the terms of the exchange agreement had changed in favor of Israel.
He accused Hamas of being the one sabotaging the agreement, indicating that there was now an opportunity for exchange, stressing that it could accept a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and not the end of the war.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Israel had a historic opportunity to eliminate Hamas, restore deterrence and reoccupy the Gaza Strip.
Ben Gvir added – during his participation in the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the new police station in Sderot – that encouraging voluntary immigration to Gaza is what will bring calm to southern Israel .
For his part, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar declared – during a press conference with his Czech counterpart – that Israel would end the war in Gaza when it had achieved its objectives and that he needed a reliable Palestinian partner, far from incentive policies. and killings in Gaza.
But the Washington Post newspaper cited an informed source as saying that Israeli officials hope to seize the opportunity after the ceasefire in Lebanon to release Israeli detainees in Gaza.
According to the same source, Israeli officials could try to reach a limited agreement in order to create momentum that could lead to a broader agreement.
The newspaper cited the father of an Israeli prisoner who expressed concern that ministers in Netanyahu’s government were planning to colonize Gaza and forget about those detained there.
In this context, the Wall Street Journal, citing Israeli officials, indicated that the army would need several years of work inside Gaza to ensure that Hamas does not return to power.