Israel and Palestine Continue Slapping Each Other

• 03.09.2015, 22:41
•  Near East,  World

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict seems to be entering a new stage – a stage of new ambiguities and rhetoric. On Sunday the Prime Minister of Israel Benyamin Netanyahu made a statement which will, most probably, mark a new stage of Israeli-Palestinian relations. Even though it seemed that around the negotiation table the sides had agreed on some points, among them the two-state solution, Netanyahu's statement proved just the contrary. He said that his previous support for a demilitarized Palestinian state is already "irrelevant", Jerusalem Post reports. "In the situation created in the Middle East, any territory that will be evacuated will be taken over by radical Islam and terrorist organizations supported by Iran," – Netanyahu said and added that in such a situation one cannot speak about any concession.  

As a response to what Netanyahu said, Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator to the peace talks declared that "Netanyahu was never a man of the two-state solution," Jerusalem Post reports referring to the New York Times. He called Netanyahu's actions as a threat to the security of the region and declared that Israel has always chosen building settlements over peace.

Such kind of rhetoric from the both sides shows that all the points agreed during the negotiations, all "bridges" built so far are gradually being destroyed. Recently the Palestine Liberation Organization voted for suspending security coordination with Israel. This move came after the January halt of the transfer of more than $100 million a month in tax revenues by Israel as a response to Palestine’s decision to apply for accession to the International Criminal Court. The sides continue responding to the actions of the other side. It is interesting, where will it bring at the end?