There have been several instances of offensive acts and remarks against Palestinians by Israeli officials ever since the most right-wing government came to power in Israel in December 2022. In the latest instance of escalation, Israeli finance minister made controversial remarks this week, denying the existence of the Palestinian people while using a map of Israel that included borders of Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territories.
The remarks have drawn condemnation from Arab as well as Western nations. The State of Qatar has also issued a strong rebuke over the remarks. Qatar said the remarks showed the racism of the occupation government and an attempt to falsify history and deny the right of the Palestinian people to exist. It said these extremist statements and flimsy allegations contradict human values and history, which confirms the existence of the Palestinian people on this land since eternity.
Qatar reiterated its stance in support of the Palestinian people and their right to have their own independent state based on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Saudi Arabia also denounced the offensive statements, which Riyadh said were contrary to the truth and would contribute to spreading violence and hate speech, and undermine all efforts made for dialogue and international peace. The Palestinian Authority, Egypt and Jordan also condemned the remarks. The Jordanian foreign ministry called the remarks “extremist racism” and warned that the Israeli minister’s “use of a map... that encompasses the border of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan” may be in violation of the 1994 peace accord.
The United States termed remarks by the far-right Israeli finance minister inaccurate and offensive. “The Palestinians have a rich history and culture and the United States values our partnership with the Palestinian people,” a State Department spokesperson said. France also termed the comments “irresponsible”.
The same minister had earlier called for a Palestinian village “to be erased”, drawing broad condemnation. Earlier this year, the Muslim world was enraged after Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed the Al Aqsa Mosque.
These provocative acts come amid an unprecedented rise in violence in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has claimed the lives of 86 Palestinian adults and children this year. Thirteen Israeli adults and children, including members of the security forces and civilians, and one Ukrainian civilian have been killed over the same period.
It is time the international community assumed its responsibility and forced Israel to respect the resolutions of international legitimacy.
