Rubio in Israel: Unconditional Support Despite Qatar Bombing
American Secretary of State Marco Rubio begins a visit to Israel today, Sunday, during which he will reaffirm his country’s support for Tel Aviv, despite the strikes it has launched on Qatar targeting leaders of Hamas, which were criticized by President Donald Trump.
Rubio confirmed that the rare public criticism Trump directed at Israel regarding the bombing of Doha will not change the extensive support that Washington provides to Israel.
The report stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet made a decision regarding proceeding with the annexation or determining its scope, adding that “Netanyahu wants to know during his meeting with Rubio whether President Donald Trump will support the annexation step,” according to an Israeli official.
According to what the Axios website reported from Israeli and American officials, Rubio will discuss during his visit to Israel the issue of annexing parts of the occupied West Bank, amidst the announced move by several Western countries to recognize the State of Palestine later this month.
American media reported that two Israeli officials stated that Rubio hinted in closed meetings that he does not oppose the annexation and that the Trump administration will not stand in Israel’s way in this matter. However, these statements raised concerns within the American administration, as an American official clarified that “the feeling was that the Israeli government is trying to box the administration in without a clear American position.”
The report pointed out that the White House and the U.S. State Department held several internal meetings in recent days to craft a clear public position that prevents any ambiguity regarding this issue. An American official explained that the main fears expressed in these meetings are that the annexation of parts of the West Bank could lead to the collapse of the ‘Abraham Accords’ and tarnish Trump’s legacy.
In a brief comment, a White House official told Axios, “The White House is certainly engaged in a range of political discussions related to the Middle East. We do not comment on internal meetings that may or may not have occurred.”
In contrast, a senior Israeli official stated that Netanyahu wants to know from Rubio “how far the United States is willing to give Israel space to maneuver in its response to the recognitions of the State of Palestine, especially regarding the issue of West Bank annexation.”
Netanyahu and Rubio are scheduled to meet on Sunday and Monday, while it is expected that the American Secretary of State will participate on Sunday in an event organized by settlers at an “archaeological site” located under the Palestinian village of Silwan in occupied Jerusalem, very close to Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The United Nations General Assembly voted on Friday to approve the “New York Declaration” proposed by France and Saudi Arabia, which calls for an irreversible path to establishing a Palestinian state. 142 countries voted in favor of the declaration, while 10 countries, including the United States and Israel, opposed it, and 12 countries abstained from voting.
The principles of the declaration are set to form a fundamental reference for the leaders’ summit supporting the two-state solution, scheduled for September 22, on the sidelines of the General Assembly meetings in New York, where France, Britain, Canada, and several other countries are expected to announce their recognition of the State of Palestine.
