Blinken’s Public Warning to Netanyahu
The agreements between Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies have been finalized, and the new Israeli government is being formed. The distribution of roles and positions in the upcoming cabinet and the understandings on various government programs for the coming years have led to an unprecedented dominance of extremists.
With Itamar Ben Gvir taking the position of Minister of Internal Security and the agreements between extremists and Netanyahu on their preferred plans for significant changes in settlement programs, controlling newly occupied areas, and how to deal with Palestinians, concerns have risen about further fragmentation of Palestinian territories, expansion of settlements, and a serious increase in violence against Palestinians.
In light of these concerns, Antony Blinken has been compelled to issue a public warning to Benjamin Netanyahu. In his discussion at a meeting of a moderate American Jewish organization that supports the two-state policy, he stated that the basis of the Biden administration’s policy should be interaction based on the policies of the upcoming Israeli government, rather than paying serious attention to specific extremist individuals present in the government. However, he seriously warned about Netanyahu’s potential actions for further fragmentation and settlement expansion. He also emphasized that the U.S. government is seriously committed to the civil rights of all citizens in Israel and the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and other minorities.