The US State Department called the comments “irresponsible,” “repulsive” and “disgusting” (File)
Jerusalem:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday sought to soften international outrage over calls by a far-right member of his cabinet to “wipe out” a flashpoint Palestinian village, saying the comments were “inappropriate”.
But Benjamin Netanyahu also pushed back against condemnation from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, accusing foreign powers of undermining Palestinian violence such as the February 26 killing of two Israeli brothers in the village of Huwara, which provoked a settler there Had given.
Bezel Smotrich said last week that while he opposed vigilantism, he believed that “Huwara needed to be eradicated” by Israel.
The US State Department called the comments “irresponsible,” “abhorrent” and “abhorrent” and said that Benjamin Netanyahu should repudiate and disavow them.
The UN human rights chief said that Bezalel Smotrich had made “an unfathomable statement of incitement to violence”.
With Israeli media speculating that Bezalel Smotrich, who is traveling to Washington next week, would be rejected by the US administration and complicate his relations with the Netanyahu government, he offered a retraction on Saturday but did not apologize.
Bezalel Smotrich told Channel 12 TV, “Upset I missed it.”
The Palestinians have urged the US administration not to receive Bezalel Smotrich. Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he – not coalition partners like Bezalel Smotrich – calls the shots on Israeli diplomacy.
“It is important for all of us to tone down the rhetoric, work to bring down the temperature,” Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted on Sunday.
Benjamin Netanyahu said, “I am still waiting to hear the Palestinian Authority’s condemnation of the Yaniv brothers’ murder.” “And Israel is waiting for the international community to insist that the PA condemn that attack. Not only has it not done so, it continues to turn a blind eye to the PA’s massive provocation.”
On Thursday, State Department spokesman Ned Price tweeted: “Just as we condemn Palestinian incitement to violence, we also condemn Treasury Secretary Smotrich’s inflammatory comments, which amount to incitement to violence. It is necessary that Palestinians and Israelis work together to restore peace.”
At least 62 Palestinians, including gunmen and civilians, have been killed since the beginning of 2023, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. According to Israel, thirteen Israelis and one Ukrainian tourist died in Palestinian attacks during the same period.
The brothers killed in Huwara were from a nearby Jewish settlement, a community the Palestinians consider negotiators over the occupied West Bank land they want for a future state. Most world powers consider the settlements illegal. Israel disputes this.
Hours after the brothers were shot in their car by a gunman who fled the scene, settlers rioted in Huwara. A Palestinian man was shot dead, dozens of others were injured, and homes and cars were set on fire. Israel has arrested 10 suspects in the stampede.
Bezalel Smotrich has been introduced at the March 12 meeting of Israel Bonds, whose website says the event will also feature “high-level US government speakers”. That speaker doesn’t have a name.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
featured video of the day
“Will Not Tolerate Alleged Attacks On Migrant Labourers”: Tejashwi Yadav