NEW Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar claimed today that the creation of a Palestinian state was not a realistic prospect, as it would be a “Hamas state.”
Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem, he said that Israel would only be ready to end its war in Gaza when all of its objectives had been achieved.
Mr Saar asserted that Israel had responded positively to proposals in Gaza ceasefire negotiations, blaming Hamas for the talks’ failure to make progress.
He also made it clear that no decision had been made on whether or not Israel would annex parts of the occupied West Bank.
Mr Saar said there has been “certain progress” in talks on a ceasefire in Lebanon, while adding that the main challenge would be enforcing any truce agreement.
“We will be ready to be there if we know, first of all, that Hezbollah is not on our border, is north of the Litani river, and that Hezbollah will not be able to arm again with new weapons systems,” he added.
The Litani runs across southern Lebanon, about 20 miles north of the Israeli border.
The far-right minister was speaking the day after newly appointed Defence Minister Israel Katz claimed, without evidence, that the Israeli military had defeated Hezbollah and that eliminating its leader Hassan Nasrallah was its crowning achievement.
“Now it is our job to continue to put pressure in order to bring about the fruits of that victory,” Mr Katz said.
In Beirut, Hezbollah official Mohammad Afif acknowledged that diplomatic efforts had intensified, while adding that neither the group nor the Lebanese government had received any new proposal.
“There is a great movement between Washington and Moscow and Tehran and a number of capitals,” Mr Afif said.
“I believe that we are still in the phase of testing the waters and presenting initial ideas and proactive discussions, but so far there is nothing actual yet.”
Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged countries at an Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh to continue sending aid as an “unprecedented” crisis continues.
“The Israeli aggression has led to severe human losses, in addition to economic repercussions, further exacerbating the tragedy, and the World Bank has estimated the losses at $8.5 billion (£6.5bn),” he said.
Mr Mikati also called for Lebanon’s sovereignty to be respected and for an end to foreign interference in his country.
He announced that a reconstruction fund was being created to assist Lebanon’s displaced people, which will be overseen by the United Nations.
