Occupied Jerusalem- The Israeli leaders from the government coalition and the opposition refrained from directing public and direct criticism at the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, and his statements in which he once again called for encouraging Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to “voluntarily immigrate,” but they directed their criticism at him and his statements from the angle of harming relations with United State.
The Israeli leaders unanimously agreed that his statements harm relations with the American administration, and also harm Israel’s strategies and national security, targeting its international standing, and undermining its future war effort.
In contrast to the double standards of Israeli politicians in dealing with Ben Gvir’s statements, Israeli analysts agreed that the idea of “voluntary immigration” is unrealistic and harms Israel, exposes it to accountability from international human rights institutions and establishes judicial procedures against Israel, with everything related to suspicions of genocide and cleansing. Ethnic.
Ben Gvir’s statements to the Wall Street Journal come at a time when Israel is preparing to submit its first report to the International Supreme Court in The Hague, which asked it to determine procedures to prevent suspicions of genocide, as well as to avoid targeting Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, and to ensure the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip. .
Shy criticism
Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Ben Gvir’s statements, and wrote on his account on the “X” platform in a comment in which he said, “The interview that Ben Gvir gave to the Wall Street Journal is a direct attack on Israel’s international standing, and also harms the Israeli war effort.” It also harms the security of Israel.”
The same position was expressed by the head of the “National Camp,” Minister in the War Council, Benny Gantz, who denounced Ben Gvir’s statements, saying that “there may be disagreements, even with our largest and most important ally, but they must be resolved through the relevant institutions, and not through Irresponsible statements in the media, which harm Israel’s strategic relations, the state’s security and the war effort at this time.”
Contrary to what is usual, the head of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party and member of the War Council, Aryeh Deri, broke his silence and directed indirect criticism at Ben Gvir, and chose to thank the American administration for its support and its pro-Israel position in the war on Gaza, saying, “Even among friends and acquaintances there.” Differences in opinion and viewpoints.”
Regarding these criticisms from the opposition and the coalition that were directed at Ben Gvir, the Prime Minister was forced to comment during the weekly government session, where he said, addressing Ben Gvir, “I do not need help in knowing how to manage our relations with the United States and the international community, while standing firmly on our national interests.” “.
Israel’s predicament
Contrary to the position of Israeli politicians, who deliberately did not directly criticize Ben Gvir’s statements regarding “voluntary immigration,” the editor of the Zaman Yisrael website, Bernit Gorn, directed criticism at Ben Gvir, describing him as the “Minister of International Harms.”
Gorn pointed out that Ben Gvir’s statements regarding “voluntary immigration” come at a time when international forums and the Hague Court continue to direct suspicions attributed to Israel of committing violations that suggest genocide, saying that “these statements and silence about them further implicate Israel.”
She explained that since October 7, Israel has been dealing with several fronts in addition to the military fronts, with increasing hostility in the diplomatic arenas, and with real threats in the field of international law.
Despite this, Horon says, “Ben Gvir, and apparently not alone, insists on the plan that aims to encourage Gazans to voluntarily migrate to other parts of the world” in exchange for a fee, describing it as “the true humanitarian solution.”
The same editor believes that in the next session of the International Supreme Court in The Hague, the interview with Ben Gvir and his statements regarding “voluntary migration,” from petitioners against Israel to the court, will be presented as further evidence of suspicions of genocide, and that Israel did not implement measures to avoid harming civilians in the Gaza Strip. .
International accountability
Professor of Political Science and International Relations, Dr. Or Lavie, commented in an assessment of a position he posted on his Facebook account on the Israeli calls to encourage Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to “voluntarily immigrate,” saying that “these calls harm Israel and put it before accountability in international forums, in every way.” “Related to suspicions of genocide and ethnic cleansing.”
It is believed that the problem with this idea, which seems very attractive on paper, is that the chances of its realization are zero or even less than that, and because it is a populist and attractive idea, it occupies a leading position in Israeli discourse, and perhaps a consensus among politicians.
Two million and 200 thousand Palestinians currently live in the Gaza Strip. “The head of the Religious Zionism Alliance, Bezalel Smotrich, promised that Israel will achieve a situation where only 100-150 thousand Palestinians will remain in the Gaza Strip, a number that Israel can live and coexist with,” Lavie said.
The mass deportation of the population against their will, the Israeli lecturer added, “is a measure that will be met with a harsh international response that includes economic sanctions and a loss of American support. This is also clear to Ben Gvir, Smotrich and others like them, and for this reason none of them talk about such deportation, but rather about “immigration.” Voluntary.
Lafi recalled the “voluntary migration” project after the Six-Day War in June 1967, which ended in failure and effectively left Israel, against its will, in complete control of the population of Gaza, at that time, as 450,000 Palestinians were living in the Strip.
Lafi pointed out that the main idea at the time was to “encourage the migration” of the population of the Gaza Strip to other countries, and then annex the Strip to Israel, as Prime Minister Levi Eshkol proposed drying the Strip to the point of humanitarian distress and the collapse of the little remaining agriculture, a step he believed It will force some residents to migrate to other countries.
