In a move that has sparked outrage among Labour MPs, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently suggested that Palestinians should set up their own state in Saudi Arabia rather than in their historic homeland. This bizarre proposition comes after Riyadh has repeatedly insisted that a clear route to Palestinian statehood is a precondition for establishing official ties with Israel.
During an interview on Israel’s Channel 14, Netanyahu dismissed Saudi Arabia’s demands with a quip:
“The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there.”
Labour MPs call the idea ‘barbaric’
Labour’s response was swift and scathing. Afzal Khan, vice-chair of the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims, slammed Netanyahu’s proposal as nothing short of “barbaric”. He stressed that Palestinians are not in need of further displacement, but rather deserve a free, independent homeland.
“Netanyahu’s barbaric proposals would force the removal of a population and pave the way for an ethnic cleansing of Gaza,” Khan warned. He reiterated that the current Labour government has expressed its unequivocal disapproval of any plans that threaten to displace Palestinians, asserting that such flagrant breaches of international law must not be tolerated.
Calls for strong government action
Labour MP Kim Johnson added her voice to the criticism, describing Netanyahu’s comments as both absurd and insulting. She insisted that the future of Palestine should be decided solely by the Palestinian people rather than dictated by external forces. Johnson called on the government to immediately recognise a Palestinian state and demanded that the Foreign Secretary object to Netanyahu’s proposal in the strongest possible terms.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently affirmed that Palestinians must be allowed to rebuild on the path to a two-state solution, although Britain’s Foreign Office declined to comment directly on Netanyahu’s remarks.
Additional criticisms and international concerns
The outcry didn’t stop with Labour MPs. Independent MP Adnan Hussain dismissed Netanyahu’s comments by referring to him as a war criminal, arguing that his rhetoric on mass displacement only confirms his willingness to commit further war crimes. He stressed that Britain must stand firm in upholding international law and the rights of the Palestinian people.
Zack Polanski, deputy leader of the Green Party, also took aim at the proposal, criticising not only Netanyahu but also urging the Labour government to do more than merely offer an alternative vision. Polanski argued that the government should actively condemn any plans that could lead to ethnic cleansing.
This controversy has emerged at a time when Saudi Arabia and Israel appear further apart than ever on normalising ties. Chris Doyle, chair of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, suggested that Netanyahu’s provocative remarks might be a tactical move designed to disrupt negotiations with Riyadh. He explained that while Netanyahu does want a deal, his comments are intended to distance Saudi Arabia from the Palestinian cause.
Associate professor Andreas Krieg of King’s College London noted that Netanyahu’s statements are “completely out of sync” with the policies of nearly every UN member state outside the US and Israel, all of whom support the Palestinian right to self-determination within their historic borders.
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