Is Netanyahu the Palestinians’ new BFF? - opinion
The Saudis insisted they would not normalize relations until Israel and the Palestinians had made credible progress on negotiations toward statehood, something Netanyahu rejected.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become a surprising ally to Palestinians in the eyes of some observers. Despite his long-held stance against Palestinian statehood, Netanyahu found himself favorably positioned when it came to US President Donald Trump. Trump was more interested in forging relationships with wealthy Gulf oil sheiks, who saw Israel as a means of trade, technology, and protection from their mutual foe, Iran.
Netanyahu agreed to the Abraham Accords, which allowed him to prioritize diplomatic relations with these nations while avoiding Palestinian demands for annexation of the West Bank. However, the recent Hamas massacre in October 7 changed the dynamic, as global sympathy shifted from Israel to the Palestinians. Israel's brutal response to the conflict and the destruction of homes, mosques, and hospitals only worsened the situation.
In response, some in Netanyahu's government, such as ultra-nationalist factions and the extremist government, advocated for pushing Arabs out of Gaza and reoccupying the Strip. Netanyahu's government dismissed casualty numbers, but independent reports confirmed the death toll exceeded 73,000 and 173,000 were wounded. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Netanyahu's indifference sparked international outrage, leading to protests across the United States.
Many Democrats, who previously supported Israel, began to distance themselves from the Netanyahu government, with a majority of Senate Democrats voting to restrict or halt military assistance. This shift in sentiment has been attributed to the Palestinian cause's increased popularity, as shown by Gallup and Pew Research Center polls.
The election season will likely see candidates running on anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian platforms, capitalizing on the growing public sentiment.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
