The Day After Aza: “Palestine”, Saudi-Arabia and Haredim (Update)

During the sitting of the Knesset Plenum on Wednesday, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and Minister of Defense MK Israel Katz (Likud) addressed the plenum about the question ‘Day after Aza”‘ (means the day after the war ended in Aza with the unconditional surrender of Hamas) from a strategical point of view. It was to a certain extent a rather bizarr debate.

Palestine and Saudia-Arabia

Minister of Strategic Affairs Dermer was asked by MK Oded Forer (Yisrael Beitenu) whether, in the context of the negotiations with Saudi Arabia, a promise had been given to establish a “Palestinian” state.

Minister Dermer explained that “There is no promise with regard to establishing a Palestinian state, at all. Regarding the management of Gaza, I have been hearing for a long time that there should be an Israeli plan—we are working on this and I am a partner to this work on the day after in Gaza. Because it is an Israeli plan, we have to mobilize both the United States and the forces in the region, and I am very optimistic that we can reach management of Gaza on the day after exactly according to the framework set by the Prime Minister. We will talk less and do more. As for Lebanon, we have the ability to enforce any violation, and we will do what needs to be done to protect the security of Israel’s northern residents.“

This question and answer are very surprising and bizarr, because in July 2024 the Knesset clearly decided that there would be no state of “Palestine” “in the so-called “West Bank””West of Jordan” aka Judea and Samaria inlucding the undivided, eternal capital of Israel: Jerusalem.

The declaration reads as follows: “The Knesset of Israel firmly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan. The establishment of a Palestinian state in the heart of the Land of Israel would pose an existential danger to the State of Israel and its citizens, perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and destabilize the region.“

The resolution passed by a vote of 68-9. In February 2024, the Knesset Plenum passed with a large majority a resolution stating that the Knesset objects to unilateral international recognition of a Palestinian state. So, about what is being discussed?

The debate about Saudi Arabia is also absurd and bizarre. Israel has no conflict with Saudi Arabia and has never had a war with Saudi Arabia.

Currently, Saudi Arabia and Israel can live perfectly side by side and continue to officially ignore each other. Why? The price that Saudi Arabia is demanding so that Israel can open an office in Riyadh is simply absurd and too high.

Saudi Arabia must offer more and change itself. The time when “deals” could be made at any price with dictators who cannot commit to change towards democracy and freedom is over. Democratic states should not and must no longer bow to Islamist claims to power.

The fact is that Saudi Arabia is an Islamic dictatorship. Its ideology is Wahhabism. Simply demanding conformity and submission from Israel is not acceptable. If Saudi Arabia wants to see a “Palestinian state”, then Saudi Arabia can create one the Empty Quarter in Saudi Arabia.

Haredim – Respect is the Key

Israel needs soldiers. That is a fact. Every young man should serve 32 months for the security of the State of Israel.

The heroic warriors today also protect the Torah. I think every Yeshiva student sees and understands it.

But the deep state of Israel must be disempowered so that a solution can be found. Because at the moment the deep state is not missing any opportunity to act against Judaism and religious people. This is known as ‘selective enforcement’. And the deep state boycotts finding a solution, as Minister Katz deleneated.

“The real chance to create a turnabout and a revolution on the issue of the draft is through consent and dialogue. There is a time of favor here that did not exist in the past. There is also something incredible—the ministry’s legal advisor is forbidden to speak to me about the draft bill. She is unable to do so. I presented principles, and they will be discussed within the existing bill, and I hope that the outcome will be effective—genuine military service of thousands of people,” said Minister MK Katz.

I think that if the state were to show itself to be respectful and serving its citizens, including the Haredim, acceptance would not be a problem. It is about respect and less about dialogue and consent, as Minister Katz addressed in his reply to the question of conscription of Haredim.

And surely every yeshiva student knows that if you put on tefillin, it is as if you had studied Torah all day. For 32 months this is an acceptable compromise.

Besides, the ‘day after Aza’ can only be that Aza become a part of Israel.

Update (22.01.2025, 22:39 PM Israeli Time)

It seems that Minister Dermer tends to obey to the failed ‘conceeeeptia’ and Oslo doctrine. He is talking about the possibility that UAE may run Aza after the war with the aim to establish an antisemitic and antidemocratic terror state “Palestine”. The governement must free itself from the Oslo doctrine which led directly to 7/10. On 7/10 all ideas of coexistence imploded. The political echelon of Israel does not seem to have realized that Trump has won the election and that Israel no longer has to be submissive. All options are on the table. But Israel has to decide. For a sovereign Israel or to remain trapped in the Oslo framework and force a state on an imaginary people called “Palestine”. “Palestine” does not want to be a state, it wants to destroy Israel.