Netanyahu Criticizes European Recognition of Palestinian State Amid Rising Tensions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the intentions of several European countries to recognize a Palestinian state, calling it a 'reward for terrorism.' The Prime Minister's Office issued a statement on Thursday, refuting claims that Netanyahu had received warnings about a possible attack from Gaza. The statement emphasized that documents from Israel's research division of the AMN did not suggest any such threat from Hamas.
According to the statement, the documents revealed that Hamas has no intention of initiating an attack from Gaza. Analysts pointed to evidence suggesting that Hamas prefers to focus its efforts on other fronts, and has been deterred from escalating the situation in Gaza. 'The assessment in the documents that Hamas is not interested in escalation and is interested in a settlement with Israel was consistently shared by all the security agencies,' Netanyahu's office stated.
Netanyahu himself has voiced concerns over the potential negative impact of internal divisions in Israel on its deterrence capabilities. 'The internal debate gnaws away at deterrence against our enemies who can easily be tempted into acts of aggression against us,' he warned.
In an April 2023 interview, Netanyahu addressed expert assessments on the growing danger of war and stated, 'I think there is an exaggeration in this.' He assured the public that Israel is 'preparing for this possibility and dealing with it 360 degrees.'
In a related international development, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide announced that Oslo would comply with any International Criminal Court (ICC) warrants against Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, or Hamas officials for war crimes. Eide emphasized that this obligation extends to all European countries, with the exception of Turkey.
- The Prime Minister's Office further elaborated on the two mentions of Hamas in the documents. The first, dated March 19, 2023, indicated that Hamas' strategy is to shift its focus away from Gaza. The second reference, from May 31, 2023, recommended that Israel adhere to regional de-escalation trends and take steps toward a settlement with Hamas.
- Netanyahu has repeatedly warned about the dangers of internal disagreement within Israel. On July 17, 2023, he stated, 'This internal debate gnaws away at our deterrence against our enemies, who may be tempted to act aggressively against us.' This sentiment underscores the Israeli government's concern about maintaining unity in the face of external threats.
- With regards to the potential ICC arrests, Eide's statements reflect a strong stance on international law and accountability, emphasizing Norway's commitment to applying the same standards to all parties involved in the conflict.
