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US Envoy to Israel: Palestinian State Not Reward for Terrorism

Former US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew testifies before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be the next US ambassador to Israel on Capitol Hill, Washington, US, Oct. 18, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Leah Millis

JNS.org — American Ambassador to Israel Jacob Lew gave an intricate interview at the Institute for National Security Studies online conference on Thursday, discussing a broad spectrum of topics, including hostage negotiations, the US arms shipment delay, Israel-US ties, Saudi Arabia, and regional normalization efforts.

Lew emphasized the need for flexibility in talks with Hamas, firmly rejected the notion that a two-state solution would reward terrorism, and provided insights into the ongoing hostage deal talks and the complexities of achieving regional normalization.

When asked whether it was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who needed to show more flexibility to secure a deal, Lew diplomatically responded, “In any negotiation, everyone needs to be flexible.”

Explaining how the two-state solution would not be a “trophy” for Palestinian terrorism, Lew explained that while Hamas ostensibly advocates for two states, its true stance is fundamentally opposed to the existence of a Jewish state. As such, “a long-term vision of how two people can live together and for there to be a democratic Jewish state of Israel” would be a “defeat for Iran and Hamas,” and therefore “not a reward for October 7, but punishment.”

Looking to the future after a Gaza deal, he added, “From there, within the remaining time constraints, we try to achieve normalization.” Nevertheless, he said it would not be an easy process as “Saudi Arabia made it clear it was not prepared to go through normalization on the exact same terms as the Abraham Accords.”

Regarding potential direct negotiations with Hamas for the release of Israeli-American dual citizen hostages, Lew assured that the administration was still pursuing “Plan A,” which includes Israel in the process. “We are devoting most of our energy, from the president through the entire foreign policy team, myself included, 24/7 efforts to make it happen,” the ambassador emphasized.

Despite the recent murder of six hostages in captivity, Lew claimed that “progress continued to be made” and that “conversations at very senior levels between Israel and the mediators continued.”

The Philadelphi Corridor

Addressing the issue of the Philadelphi Corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt, Lew said, “Phase 1 never called for the complete withdrawal of IDF from Gaza. There’s no mention of the Philadelphi Corridor in the document. It wasn’t even an issue when the framework was drafted.”

On the topic of the US weapons shipment delays to Israel, Lew said, “There was one shipment that was put on hold because we have different views on the appropriate use of one weapons system. There was never an embargo. The day that shipment was held, aircraft delivered munition to Israel.”

He added, “Friends can have different views about the use of a 2,000-pound bomb. It was blown way out of proportion.”

Lew praised Israel for adjusting its plans for Rafah after the US expressed concerns about civilian casualties. “IDF rethought its battle plan and went about the plan in Rafah in a very different way. That demonstrates the strength of the relationship.”

When asked about the relationship between Netanyahu and President Joe Biden, Lew emphasized the importance of trust and open communication.

“It is always the case that when leaders know each other, understand each other and trust each other, it makes easy things and difficult things possible. Things that undermine trust create friction. There has to be an ongoing and tight relationship between the people, government and leaders of Israel and the US.

“Relationships with trust require constant nurturing. If your closest friends don’t ask the hardest questions, then they’re not really your closest friends,” the ambassador said.

The post US Envoy to Israel: Palestinian State Not Reward for Terrorism first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Saudi Arabia Rejects Israel PM Netanyahu’s Remarks on Displacing Palestinians

US President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talk in the midst of a joint news conference in the White House in Washington, US, Jan. 28, 2020. Photo: REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Saudi Arabia affirmed its categorical rejection of remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about displacing Palestinians from their land, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

Israeli officials have suggested the establishment of a Palestinian state on Saudi territory. Netanyahu appeared to be joking on Thursday when he responded to an interviewer on pro-Netanyahu Channel 14 who mistakenly said “Saudi state” instead of “Palestinian state,” before correcting himself.

While the Saudi statement mentioned Netanyahu’s name, it did not directly refer to the comments about establishing a Palestinian state in Saudi territory.

Egypt and Jordan also condemned the Israeli suggestions, with Cairo deeming the idea as a “direct infringement of Saudi sovereignty.”

The kingdom said it valued “brotherly” states’ rejection of Netanyahu’s remarks.

“This occupying extremist mindset does not comprehend what the Palestinian territory means for the brotherly people of Palestine and its conscientious, historical and legal association with that land,” it said.

Discussions of the fate of Palestinians in Gaza has been upended by Tuesday’s shock proposal from President Donald Trump that the U.S. would “take over the Gaza Strip” from Israel and create a “Riviera of the Middle East” after resettling Palestinians elsewhere.

Arab states have roundly condemned Trump’s comments, which came during a fragile ceasefire in the Gaza war that Israel has been waging against the terrorist group Hamas, which controls the narrow strip.

Trump has said Saudi Arabia was not demanding a Palestinian state as a condition for normalizing ties with Israel. But Riyadh rebuffed his statements, saying it would not establish ties with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state.

The post Saudi Arabia Rejects Israel PM Netanyahu’s Remarks on Displacing Palestinians first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Egypt to Host Emergency Arab Summit on 27 February to Discuss ‘Serious’ Palestinian Developments

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet at the White House in Washington, DC, US, Feb. 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

Egypt will host an emergency Arab summit on 27 February to discuss what it described as “serious” developments for Palestinians, according to a statement from the Egyptian foreign ministry on Sunday.

The summit comes amid regional and global condemnation of US President Donald Trump’s suggestion to “take over the Gaza Strip” from Israel and create a “Riviera of the Middle East” after resettling Palestinians elsewhere.

The post Egypt to Host Emergency Arab Summit on 27 February to Discuss ‘Serious’ Palestinian Developments first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Thai Nationals Held Captive by Hamas in Gaza Return Home

Relatives hug a released Thai hostage, who was kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas and held in Gaza, as the hostages arrive in Thailand following their release, at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, in Samut Prakan, Thailand, February 9, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

When Surasak Rumnao, 31, left his home in Thailand’s rural Udon Thani province three years ago to go across the world to the southern Israeli town of Yesha for agriculture work, his family never imagined they would lose touch with him for over a year when he was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in October 2023.

He and four others were reunited with their families this weekend after their release from captivity in Gaza.

Hamas-led Palestinian terrorists abducted more than 250 people, including Israelis and foreign nationals, in their October 2023 attack on Israel.

During the attack, Hamas terrorists killed more than 40 Thais and kidnapped 31 Thai laborers, some of whom died in captivity, according to the Thai government. Later that year, the first group of Thai hostages was returned.

Surasak’s mother, Khammee Rumnao, was relieved that her son was not mistreated and has returned to his home, about 620 km(385 miles) northeast of the capital, Bangkok.

“He mainly got to eat bread, he was looked after well and was fed all three meals (each day). He got to shower, he was looked after well,” Khammee said, and that he ate whatever his captors had.

Her son does not plan to go back and wants to use the knowledge he gained in his agricultural work in Israel at their home, she said.

His grandparents and other relatives came to their home to welcome him home.

His stepfather, Janda Prachanan, was elated.

“I couldn’t find the words to describe how happy I am, that my son is safe and finally home,” he said.

Earlier on Sunday, the other returnees, dressed in winter jackets, were met with tears of joy from their families who were waiting for their arrival at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

“We are all deeply touched to come back to our birthplace … to be standing here,” said Pongsak Thaenna, one of the returnees said. “I don’t know what else to say, we are all truly thankful.”

Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, who met the hostages in Israel after their release last week, expressed relief.

“This is emotional … to come back to the embrace of their families,” he said. “We never gave up and this was the fruit of that.”

Before the conflict, approximately 30,000 Thai laborers worked in Israel’s agriculture sector, making them one of the largest migrant worker groups in the country. Nearly 9,000 Thais were repatriated following the October 7 attacks.

The workers primarily come from Thailand’s northeastern region, an area comprising villages and farming communities that is among the poorest in the country.

Thailand’s foreign ministry said a Thai national is still believed to be held captive by Hamas.

“We still have hope and continue to work to bring them back,” Maris said, adding that this includes the bodies of two deceased Thai nationals.

The post Thai Nationals Held Captive by Hamas in Gaza Return Home first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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