Palestinian Foreign Minister Says Israeli Election Won't Bring Peace

Palestinian Authority Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Varsen Shahin stated that Israel's upcoming October 27 election will not bring peace to the West Bank unless there is a fundamental shift in policy. Shahin argued that simply replacing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is insufficient, asserting that Israel must abandon its expansionist and annexationist policies and respect Palestinian rights to achieve regional security.

Shahin noted that while some of Netanyahu's challengers have called for crackdowns on extremist settler violence, none have advocated for a change in the broader Palestinian track. This diplomatic stance comes amid a surge in settler violence in the West Bank and ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

Regarding the future of Gaza, Shahin expressed the Palestinian Authority's readiness to coordinate with an interim administration under a peace plan sponsored by U.S. President Donald Trump. This plan requires the Palestinian Authority to undergo reform as a condition for statehood.