Israel’s ambassador to Russia, Alexander Ben Zvi, spoke about the two-state idea in the Middle East as something achievable only if Israel’s security is fully guaranteed. During his conversation with TASS, he emphasized that Israel has long endorsed the notion of two states — an independent Palestine alongside Israel — and has floated several potential pathways for realising it. Yet Ben Zvi warned that no viable plan had been put forward by others to counter the groups that pose a threat to Israel.
The ambassador clarified that an independent Palestinian state is a possibility, provided it does not imperil Israel. He framed this as more than just a political existence: it must be a secure one. Only with such security in place, he suggested, could Israel engage in broader discussions about the future arrangements in the region.
Earlier, Jose Manuel Albares, head of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, argued that a lasting peace in the Middle East would come from the creation and recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state. Albares underscored that the ultimate resolution should guarantee Israel’s security. He noted that the two-state solution has been reflected in recent Council decisions and aligns with the European Union’s position on the conflict.
In early October, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket assault on Israel, declaring the start of what it called Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. Militants reportedly moved into parts of Israel, seized equipment, and took a significant number of hostages. Israel responded with Operation Iron Sword in the Gaza Strip, announcing an aim to dismantle Hamas. The response included a blockade of the Gaza enclave, extensive air and ground bombardments, and calls for the evacuation of more than a million residents to the southern area of the territory.
Earlier, leaders such as Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron had signalled approaches to ending the conflict in the Middle East, advocating pathways that would stabilise the region and recognise the security concerns of all involved parties.