Israeli Minister Declares: “No Palestinian State – It’s a Fabricated Nation”

In a recent statement before a United Nations vote, Israeli Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu of the Religious Zionism party asserted that a Palestinian state will never come into existence and described the Palestinian identity as a “fabricated nation.” This declaration was made during a conversation with Israeli journalists Anat Davidov and Oudi Segal, where he claimed that the belief that granting Palestinians statehood would result in peaceful coexistence has been misguided for decades.

The Controversial Statements

Eliyahu expressed concern over the international push for Palestinian recognition, stating, “There is no Palestinian people; this is a fictitious nation. There has never been, and there will never be, a Palestinian state alongside us.” He criticized what he termed the “conception” that offering Palestinians statehood would lead them to embrace life and peace. Instead, he characterized Palestinians as migrants who arrived from various places, having been mistakenly defined as a nation.

When asked about his vision of annexing Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), Eliyahu responded that establishing a state after 2,000 years of Jewish longing was unrealistic. He maintained, however, that Jewish aspirations to expand sovereignty over the entirety of Israel should continue, citing historical references such as the Balfour Declaration and the ideas of Israeli leader Yigal Alon.

Strengthening Jewish Claims to the Land

Eliyahu emphasized that in his capacity as Minister of Heritage, he is actively working to solidify Jewish ties to their ancestral homeland “step by step, parcel by parcel.” He portrayed this effort as part of a broader dream shared by Jewish generations.

When probed about the future status and residence of Palestinians in the event of such territorial changes, Eliyahu suggested that governance models similar to Puerto Rico could be applicable. He concluded with a firm commitment to ensuring that the Jewish majority in Israel would remain intact and unchallenged.

As discussions around the Palestinian statehood continue to unfold, Eliyahu’s remarks reflect a provocative stance within the Israeli government and the ongoing debate surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.