Jerusalem:Ahead of the UN Security Council vote on the next phase of the U.S.-mediated peace initiative for Gaza, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has stirred controversy by openly denying the existence of the Palestinian people. Ben-Gvir claimed that the Levantine Arab identity is a “fabricated construct” with “no historical, archaeological, or factual basis.”
The minister, who leads the ultra-nationalist Otzma Yehudit party, made the remarks in a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.
“There is no such thing as the ‘Palestinian people.’ It is an invented identity with absolutely no historical, archaeological, or factual foundation,”
Ben-Gvir declared in his post.
He further argued that immigrants from various Arab countries who settled in the region could not be considered a nation, and therefore, do not qualify for compensation or recognition. According to him, the only “real and lasting” solution to the conflict is to promote voluntary migration of Palestinians.
Growing Pressure Within the Israeli Cabinet
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed Ben-Gvir’s hardline position, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to unequivocally declare that a Palestinian state “will never be established.”
Currently, 157 countries — including four of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — officially recognize the State of Palestine. Although Netanyahu stated in September that there would be no Palestinian state west of the Jordan River, he has generally attempted to distance himself from the extreme rhetoric of coalition partners like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.
International Push for a Two-State Framework
Several countries, including the Russian Federation, have reiterated that any future resolution concerning Gaza must reaffirm the two-state solution and outline a clear path toward Palestinian statehood.
Arab and Muslim nations argue that the U.S.-backed proposal currently under discussion at the UN could help advance Palestinian self-determination and eventual state recognition.
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