Ajit Karn
The Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu attempted to calm international outrage
Jerusalem: Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempted to calm international outrage over a far-right cabinet member’s call for the “eradication” of a volatile Palestinian village by stating that the remarks were “inappropriate.”
But Benjamin Netanyahu also fought back against the censure of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, accusing foreign powers of downplaying Palestinian violence such as the slaying of two Israeli brothers in the village of Huwara on February 26, which triggered a settler uprising in the area.
Last week, Bezalel Smotrich stated that despite his opposition to vigilantism, he believed that Israel must eradicate Huwara.
The US State Department deemed Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks “irresponsible,” “repugnant,” and “disgusting” and urged him to reject and disavow them.
The UN human rights director described Bezalel Smotrich’s incitement to violence as “incomprehensible.”
With Israeli media speculating that Bezalel Smotrich, who is scheduled to visit Washington next week, would be shunned by the US administration and complicate its relations with the Netanyahu government, he offered a retraction but no apology on Saturday.
“Being agitated, I misspoke,” Bezalel Smotrich told Channel 12 TV.
The Palestinians have requested that Bezalel Smotrich not be granted entry to the United States. Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that he, and not coalition partners such as Bezalel Smotrich, directs Israeli foreign policy.
“It is imperative that we all strive to tone down the rhetoric and lower the temperature,” tweeted Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, thanking Bezalel Smotrich “for making it obvious that his choice of words… was inappropriate.”
Benjamin Netanyahu continued, “I am still awaiting a condemnation from the Palestinian Authority for the assassination of the Yaniv brothers.” “And Israel awaits international community pressure on the PA to censure the attack. Not only has it not done so, but it continues to ignore the PA’s pervasive incitement.”
Thursday, Department of State spokesman Ned Price tweeted: “Just as we condemn Palestinian incitement to violence, we also censure provocative remarks by Finance Minister Smotrich that amount to incitement to violence. Palestinians and Israelis must cooperate collaboratively to restore calm.”
Since the beginning of 2023, at least 62 Palestinians, including militants and civilians, have been slain, according to the Palestinian health ministry. According to Israel, thirteen Israelis and one Ukrainian traveller were killed in Palestinian attacks during the same time frame.
The siblings who were murdered in Huwara were from a nearby Israeli settlement, which the Palestinians view as an encroachment on the occupied West Bank land they desire for a future state. Most international powers view the settlements as illicit. Israel contests this.
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In Huwara, settlers rioted hours after the brothers were shot in their vehicle by a gunman who escaped the scene. A Palestinian man was killed by gunfire, dozens of others were injured, and residences and vehicles were set on fire. Israel has detained ten suspects in connection with the attack.
Bezalel Smotrich is scheduled to speak at an Israel Bonds meeting on March 12; according to the organization’s website, the event will also feature a “high-level U.S. Government speaker.” This speaker is unidentified.
