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 division of roles and positions in the upcoming cabinet and the understandings over 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 over their favored plans for significant changes in settlement programs, control of newly occupied areas, and the approach to dealing with Palestinians, concerns have risen over new partitions of Palestinian lands, the 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 supporting the two-state policy, he stated that the foundation of the Biden administration’s policy should be engagement based on the policies of the future Israeli government, rather than a serious focus on specific extremist figures in the government. Nonetheless, he seriously warned about Netanyahu’s potential actions for further partition and settlement expansion. He also emphasized that the U.S. government is seriously committed to pursuing the civil rights of all citizens in Israel and the rights of sexual minorities and other minorities.