Michael Herzog, Israel’s outgoing ambassador to the US, has made some parting remarks: “Ambassador to US Michael Herzog doesn’t see Trump giving green light to West Bank annexation – KAN,” Jerusalem Post, January 24, 2025:
The ambassador, who is also the older brother to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, went on to speak about the hostage deal’s second phase, noting that there’s a mutual understanding between Israel, the outgoing Biden administration, and the incoming Trump administration, that if Hamas fails to meet their required conditions, Israel will be able to resume military pressure on the Gaza Strip.
“I think it’s too early to say how things will develop,” he added in the interview.
Herzog said that discussions also haven’t finished regarding the IDF’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
“The ceasefire agreement in the North set a target date, but it’s not set in stone. We see on the one hand, that the mechanism for monitoring the agreement is working, but on the other hand, it is proceeding slower than expected. That’s why we have entered into negotiations with both the outgoing and incoming US administrations.”
The ceasefire deal with Hezbollah requires the terror group to withdraw completely from southern Lebanon, and to remain north of the Litani River. The IDF forces would at the same time pull out of southern Lebanon and return to northern Israel. In the original agreement, the ceasefire was to last 60 days, but Israel reserved the right to extend the time it would remain in southern Lebanon if it found that Hezbollah was not retreating fast enough, or was otherwise violating the agreement. And that is what has happened. The IDF has caught Hezbollah moving weapons around to different bases in, rather than taking them out of, southern Lebanon. It has also spotted new weapons being brought to the south by Hezbollah. On a few occasions, the IDF has fired on Hezbollah fighters to remind them of the deal they promised to uphold.
On Friday, Jan. 24, the Israelis announced that they would be remaining in Lebanon beyond the original 60-day deadline stipulated in the ceasefire deal, given that Hezbollah has not fully implemented its terms. At the same time, in what was likely a response deliberately timed to coincide with Israel’s announcement, the Americans announced that a ceasefire extension was “desperately needed in Lebanon.” There is no daylight between Israel and the United States on how to deal either with Hamas in Gaza or with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Which brings us back to the worrisome news that Trump “would not allow” Israel to annex Judea and Samaria. He needs to understand, that Judea and Samaria are not tangential to, but stand at the very center of, Jewish history, that about three-quarters of the Israelis no longer believe in that will-o’-the-wisp, the “two state solution,” and instead want both to have sovereignty over — that is, to annex — Judea and Samaria, while giving the Arabs living there as much power over their own lives as is consonant with Israel’s security. As Prime Minister Netanyahu has said in lapidary fashion: “I’m certainly willing to have them [the Palestinian Arabs] have all the powers that they need to govern themselves, but none of the powers that can threaten us.” In other words, the Arabs in Judea and Samaria would have local autonomy — akin to the powers exercised by American state and local governments — but not sovereignty.
Who will explain to Trump that three-quarters of Israeli Jews now reject the notion of “two-state solution,” and it is not only Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich who want to annex Judea and Samaria, but many other Israelis, some of them focused more on the need for security — preventing an invasion from the East that could cut Israel in two in a few hours — rather than on religious considerations? The atrocities carried out by 6,000 Hamas members on October 7, 2023, and celebrated by Palestinians everywhere, have demonstrated to Israelis the depraved depths of hatred that the Palestinian Arabs harbor for them. After such a wrenching experience, Israelis are not about to settle for slogans — “two states for two peoples” — that disguise an attempt to squeeze Israel back within the now-indefensible 1949 armistice lines. Israel will not allow itself to be squeezed back within those lines, which Abba Eban once described as “the lines of Auschwitz,” with a nine-mile-wide waist from Qalqiya to the sea. Israel should announce that it is in Judea and Samaria, the cradle of Jewish history, to stay.
Kosh's Shadow says
And the “Palestinians” overwhelmingly reject a two-state solution. And they do so violently.
Natalie says
It’s irrelevant whether Israelis reject or accept a 2 state solution. The Arabs have rejected it consistently since 1947.
gravenimage says
Spot on, KS and Natalie.
Walter Sieruk says
Actually, President Trump has revealed his good judgment and understanding of how things are in the Middle East as well as wisdom by being opposed to the terrible folly of what had been termed a “two state solution” Which in reality isn’t really a solution at all.
For example, Hamas had proven not only the its words but ,more terrible murderous actions, starting on October 7th, that it wants to completely destroy the State of Israel and even commit genocide worldwide on the Jewish people. That Hamas jihad attack and continued further Islam terror/murder attacks reveals the terrible folly and total lack of wisdom in the idea of a two-state solution.
Therefore, that so called “two state solution” is not really a valid idea and not a genuine solution. It will definitely not stop this awful Israeli –Muslim land conflict.
Thus, a “two state solution” is out of the question. .This is because a “two state solution” not really a “solution” but an Islamic ploy of deception , a smokescreen and hoax and a fraud.
To put all this in another way , October7th with those Hamas Islamic terror murderous jihadist attacks into Israel from Gaza exposes that even the idea of some people of dividing Jerusalem as well as other parts of the State of Israel between the Jewish people of the Muslim/ Arabs is nothing but folly. To engage the madness of such “talks” is a hoax and a farce .This is because in the so called “negotiations” between the heads of the Jewish nation of Israel and the leaders of the “Palestinians” the Muslim /Arabs the “Palestinian” leaders will speak the truth only when in happens to fit their agenda. The rest of the time the will be speaking half-truths and outright lies. For their goal is to obtain all of the land of the State of Israel. Even in it takes much time and it means getting the land piece by piece. Therefore, those “peace talks” are a hoax.
For the “Palestinian” leaders are employing what is the Islamic doctrine of Taqiyya . Which is the Islamic dogma that lying and deception are good things to do as long as it’s done for the cause of the advancement of Islam. This insidious scheme is part of the stealth jihad . Such sly and something subtle strategy of disingenuous speech, lying deception of achieving the goal of all the land of Israel a war ploy that will be a disaster if the heads of the State of Israel are foolish enough to agree to divide the land of Israel with Muslim /Arabs ,the “Palestinians.” For if such a “peace dialogue” results in a divided land, the outcome will literally be murder. For “Palestinian” leader will allow the jihadists use that land as a base to launch murderous rocket attacks in to Israel. As for example, Hamas of Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Such false hopes for peace which are based on the foundation of lies are nothing new when it comes to Israel. For example, the Bible in Psalm 55:20, 21. Reads “Such men do violence to those at peace with them and break their promised word; their speech is smoother the butter but their thoughts are of war.” [N.E.B.]
Devon Fremd says
That three quarters of Jewish Israelis now reject a two state solution may simply not be the end of the matter. There are those, there are many, and some of them are Americans, who believe that a two state solution is the only thing that will secure the sovereignty which is their right for the Palestinians living in the region.
How that can be squared with Israel’s right to security and peace is a problem that has stumped better minds than mine will ever be. But it does seem to be a problem of conflicting interests, and, some would say, conflicting rights.
Wellington says
The two-state solution is the road to a one-state solution, i.e., no Israel.
somehistory says
Exactly. and that is all the mozlums will agree to have. It is unacceptable to people who recognize the difference between good and evil, Wellington.
Kosh's Shadow says
e.g. the Final….
James Lincoln says
Yes, Wellington.
The two-state solution is only a “bridge” to a one-state solution – with no more Israel.
gravenimage says
+1
Taffy says
Maybe Trump and his advisors and the readers and writers on this site should read and re-read the Hamas Charter of 1988 and the “new” Hamas Charter of 2017. Once everyone does that, he will see that the argument for a “two-state solution” goes bye-bye.
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/hamas.asp
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hamas-2017-document-full
Note that the Hamas Charter of 1988 was never revoked or explicitly superseded.
Les says
There was an inception to a two-state solution 20 years ago. At that time, every Israeli farmer, engineer, soldier etc, etc withdrew back into Israel.
Instead of embracing this opportunity to build farms, factories and hotels – they chose to transpose the area into a fortress. They built tunnels and rockets and put themselves in poverty.
It’s crazy that they refer to Israel as a “terrorist” state.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Yeah, that’s precisely why the Bush-Clinton legacy of forcing two-state solutions on Israel needs to end! There are 20 other Arab countries, aside from Jordan and Egypt, that the “Palestinians” can be relocated to. Those countries should also be made to grant them citizenship there
gravenimage says
So true. Les, If the “Palestinians” had wanted a “two-state solution” that would have been the time to show it. Instead, most Gazans embraced Hamas, whose very charter mandates the destruction of Israel and slaughter of her people.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
The ground realities for Trump in 2018 when he did the Abraham Accords were completely different from what they are today. At the time, there had been no October 7th, so it was easier to persuade the Israelis not to annex Judea and Samaria, in return for which they’d get recognition from individual Arab countries, starting w/ the Gulf ones. So there was optimism in Israel on that score
However, since October 7th, Israel has become a different country, and such a sale shouldn’t even be attempted. I like Trump’s idea of getting Jordan & Egypt to accommodate them, although I’d prefer it if they were dispersed to other countries not neighboring Israel, such as Kuwait, Qatar, Algeria, et al. They also don’t have to be placed in major cities: put them to work in building new settlements in the desert, and settling there. That’ll force get their minds off jihad
Cynthia says
A two state solution is another “final solution “ for the Jewish people. However, a “pathway” to a two state solution in order to get Saudi Arabia on board with the Abraham Accords is doable.
When the Palestinians continue to be violent and corrupt throughout the long process, the viability of a state may no longer be acceptable to those who are enjoying peace and prosperity in the region.
I am hoping that is the plan of Trump and Netanyahu.
Dov says
Far more than 2/3 here in Israel
skeptiker says
Die ehemaligen Bewohner von Gaza werden das ernten, was sie gesät haben.
Chancen hatten sie genug. Ihre faschistischen Phantasien von einem Groß-Palästina, können sie an jedem anderen Ort der Welt weiterhin nachgehen aber nicht mehr auf dem Territorium von Israel und seiner unmittelbaren Nachbarschaft.
terry says
Perhaps it is well past time to just simply expel them, and take land that by so called UN charters was suppose to belong to the new state of Israel anyway. Let them return to the nations which their DNA states them to be from. Further, keep the buffers in Lebanon and Syria, annex them.