Firebrand politician, Yigal Shtern has caused international uproar with his suggestion that Palestinians should be relocated to an autonomous region within the Middle East. His remarks have been met with scorn and condemnation in equal measure, with the majority of governments worldwide, as well as the UN Secretary General voicing their objections to the proposal.
Shtern, a right-wing hardliner and veteran of the Israeli political landscape, made the controversial comments during a live television interview. He argued that the Palestinians should be removed in order to preserve the political integrity of Israel, explaining “It is not right for the Palestinians to be a part of Israel. They simply do not belong.”
The comments have enraged many around the world who see them as a clear manifestation of an agenda to eliminate the Palestinians’ right to an independent homeland and to deny them of basic human rights. Indeed, the UN Secretary General’s reaction to the comments was clear, labelling Shtern’s remarks as “utterly unacceptable”.
In addition to global reaction, the proposal has been strongly critiqued domestically too. Prominent figures within the Israeli government and opposition parties have heavily criticized Shtern for his comments, with some going as far to describe Shtern’s suggestion as “dangerous and wrong”.
Notably, there have been some who support the plan, with Shtern playing on the fears of some Israelis by promoting the idea that their security and stability will be enhanced if the Palestinians are relocated. In addition, there is a subsection of society used to Shtern’s right-wing policies that remain loyal to him despite the fallout of his suggestion.
All in all, Shtern’s suggestion to relocate the Palestinians to an autonomous region has sparked global condemnation and, as of yet, has no sign of dissipating. The topic is likely to remain firmly at the top of international agenda for the foreseeable future.
