Peace is only possible once Hamas exits the scene and Gaza is demilitarised: Israeli commentator

Avi Mayer, founder of the Jerusalem Journal and former Israeli military spokesperson, told Al Jazeera that peace is only possible once Hamas is removed and Gaza demilitarised. He claimed Palestinians rejected past peace offers, citing talks under Ehud Barak and Bill Clinton, and blamed the Second Intifada for derailing peace. The interviewer challenged this, noting that the Oslo process collapsed after the assassination of Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin by a Jewish extremist. When pressed on Israel’s occupation, Mayer avoided a direct answer, reiterating support for a two-state solution dependent on “responsible Palestinian leadership.” He accused Mahmoud Abbas of Holocaust denial and of rewarding attacks on Israelis, claims widely disputed and described as misrepresentations. The interviewer countered that Abbas has long cooperated on security and supports statehood on the 1967 borders under UN resolutions. Confronted with Israeli leaders’ extremist rhetoric, Mayer maintained that Israelis desire peace and coexistence if met with “peaceful gestures” from Palestinians.

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Post from Al Jazeera on October 12, 2025

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