JERUSALEM — Reports the Biden administration and a small group of Middle East states will soon begin pushing a new peace initiative with the aim of creating a Palestinian state have drawn pushback from the Israeli government, which declared this week it will not accept “international diktats.”  

Regional experts also say such efforts are doomed to fail as they have in the past.   

Last week, the Israeli government, including more moderate members of what is considered to be the most right-wing cabinet Israel ever, unanimously declared its opposition to any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, saying such a move would only reward terrorism and prevent a future peace settlement.

“If a settlement is to be reached, it will come about solely through direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions,” a statement issued by the government said.

“Hamas is demanding not only to be part of a future state, but to lead it,” he said. He said the creation of a state as a result of the Oct. 7 terror attacks would be “an explicit recognition of Hamas as a resistance movement whose attacks led to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

“For Palestinians, the legitimacy of a political leader is largely based on their involvement in anti-Israel terror, so any Palestinian leaders who condemn terrorism are perceived as traitors and agents of Israel.” 

He noted that previous U.S. attempts to install a more moderate Palestinian leader, one that rejected terrorism, had “been met with staggering frustration.” 

“Public statements by the late Egyptian presidents Sadat and Mubarak, as well as U.S. President Bill Clinton have illustrated this,” said Hassan, recalling the widespread condemnation and boycott of Egypt due to its peace treaty with Israel. 

Yahya Sinwar, center, the elected leader of Hamas, appears during a ceremony for fighters killed by Israeli air strikes at Yarmouk football stadium May 24, 2021, in Gaza City, Gaza.  (Laurent Van der Stockt/Getty Images)

“Sadat described Arabs, including Palestinians, who boycotted Egypt over the talks as reckless ‘children and teenagers’ who should not be entrusted with the fate of Egyptians, Arabs and Palestinians,” he said. “His words still ring true 40 years later as the world watches what the recklessness of Palestinian leaders have brought upon their people and upon millions of Israelis who did not want this war.” 

While the challenges to creating a Palestinian state appear insurmountable, Omer Zanany, head of the joint unit for peace and security at the Mitvim Institute and the Berl Katznelson Center in Israel, said Israelis under the current government were also likely to thwart the efforts. 

He said Israel faces two choices – continuing the war in Gaza at the risk of the conflict escalating to other fronts or seizing what might be a “historic opportunity to end the war, bring home the hostages and defeat Hamas by entering into negotiations for a two-state solution.” 

Zanany, who heads a joint Israeli-Palestinian task force exploring the options, said there needed to be a gradual process that would bring enduring security for both Israelis and Palestinians. Such a process, he said, would put “hope” on the political horizon that would help to bring about crucial changes in both societies. 

“If we know there’s something that we can change, we have to begin with a process,” he said.”I am not talking about having peace tomorrow but about getting into a new track. And I think that’s exactly what Biden, Secretary of State Blinken and the Saudis are saying.”