This meeting comes at a sensitive time. Netanyahu is seeking to cement his image as a leader capable of garnering American support, while Trump is betting on exploiting the Israeli-Palestinian issue as an electoral card.
European refusal to recognize Palestine
Netanyahu emphasized that he would attack, from the UN podium, the European leaders who supported the recognition of the State of Palestine, saying, “There will be no Palestinian state in the heart of the Land of Israel. It will not happen.”
His office rejected the recognition of a Palestinian state by six European countries, including France and Belgium, considering the decision “not binding on Israel in any way.” This position reflects Tel Aviv’s concern that European recognitions could become a growing political pressure group. This bloc could affect the legitimacy of the occupation before the international community.
21-point US peace plan
In contrast, US envoy Steve Witkoff revealed that Washington presented a 21-point peace plan during the UN meetings. He said it addressed “the concerns of Israel and its neighbors in the region.”
However, observers believe the plan is merely a modified version of the “Deal of the Century” launched by Trump during his presidency. There is an attempt to remarket it as the war continues.
The war enters its second year
These movements coincide with the Israeli war on Gaza entering its second year. This comes amid mounting international condemnation over the death toll, which has risen to more than 65,000 Palestinians, according to UN estimates. This is in addition to the worsening humanitarian crisis, with large parts of the Strip on the brink of famine as a result of the blockade.
This scenario places Israel in direct confrontation with international pressure and exacerbates the contradiction between Israel’s “national security” rhetoric and the tragic humanitarian reality on the ground.
Implications of the meeting
Netanyahu seeks to consolidate Trump’s support ahead of the US elections, believing that any return of Trump to the White House would provide him with greater political cover.
Trump is trying to appear as a peacemaker, even though he is in fact offering a “plan tailored to Israel’s needs.”
Europe is moving in the opposite direction by recognizing Palestine, deepening the international divide over the issue.
