The leader of the National Assembly, Tzachi Hanegbi, spoke to Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safdi in an attempt to ease tensions following a speech by Finance Minister Bezalel Smutrich in Paris. Smutrich had a map of Israel behind him with the territory of Jordan included, stating that “there is no Palestinian people.” Hanegbi assured the Jordanian minister that Israel recognizes the territorial integrity of the Hashemite kingdom and is committed to the peace agreement between the two countries. They also discussed the outcome of a recent summit meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh. The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Israeli ambassador for a reprimand conversation, denouncing Smotrich’s remarks as “wild incitement” and a violation of the peace agreement. The European Union’s foreign minister, Joseph Borrell, called on the Israeli government to renounce Smotrich’s comments towards the Palestinians, describing them as “wrong, disrespectful, dangerous and ineffective.” Smutrich’s speech contended that there is no such thing as a Palestinian people and that the notion of a Palestinian history is fictitious. These statements received widespread criticism, but Smutrich insisted that the truth needed to be heard worldwide.
The head of the National Assembly Tzachi Hanegbi tonight (Tuesday) had a calming conversation with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safdi following the storm caused by Finance Minister Bezalel Smutrich’s speech in Paris with a map of Israel behind him with the territory of Jordan included and saying “there is no Palestinian people”.
Hanegbi said: “I assured the Jordanian minister that the Israeli government is committed to the peace agreement between the countries that strengthened stability and security in the region for almost 30 years and recognizes the territorial integrity of the Hashemite kingdom.”
He added that the two also discussed the conclusions of the summit meeting held together with the Jordanians in Sharm el-Sheikh yesterday.
Before that, the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had summoned the Israeli ambassador for a reprimand conversation following Smotrich’s speech. “This is wild incitement and a violation of the peace agreement,” the ministry said in a statement.
The Israeli minister was also attacked in the European Union. The European Foreign Minister, Joseph Borrell, called on the Israeli government to renounce Smotrich’s statements towards the Palestinians: “I must regret these unacceptable comments. It is wrong, disrespectful, dangerous and ineffective.”
Smotrich spoke in Paris and said: “There is no such thing as a Palestinian people. We need to tell the truth without bowing to lies and distortions of history and without succumbing to the hypocrisy of BDS and the pro-Palestinian organizations.”
“Is there such a thing as Palestinian history? They invent a fictitious people. They work for fictitious rights. To fight the Zionist movement. This is the truth. My grandfather, who was 13th generation in Jerusalem, is the real Palestinian. My grandmother, who was born in Metula more than 100 years ago to a family of pioneers, is Palestinian”.
According to him, “This truth needs to be heard by the Arabs of the Land of Israel, the Jews who are a little confused, and also in the Elysee Palace and the White House. The whole world needs to hear it.”