In a closed-door meeting with the Jewish Agency Board of Governors on Monday, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer “spoke about the Palestinian Authority as a potential partner but only as one option among others—not as the only option. He was not consistent about anything. He left all options open," according to a person who was present.
"The subtext was that he only sees the option of war, which is why he spoke about many scenarios," the person said.
Dr. Yizhar Hess, a representative of the Conservative movement, asked about the Qatari cash suitcases being transferred to Gaza. Dermer said that even back then, he did not like that agreement and he had refused to tweet about it—something the Qataris expected as a sort of stamp of approval. Dermer was concerned that doing so might anger the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
According to a Ynet report, Dermer said that defeating Hamas could lead to a peace agreement with the Palestinians. Per the report, Dermer said that if Hamas is “totally defeated”, then “the poison can be removed from the Palestinian education because they will understand that the idea was completely defeated.”
“It will then be possible to give the Palestinians the stage that cannot destroy Israel, and they will see that Arab states make peace and educate to peace,” Dermer was quoted by Ynet saying.
He added, “I am sure that we will completely crush Hamas, but we need to make sure that we rescue the hostages first,” according to Ynet.
Dermer reportedly said that former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told him that Hamas as an idea could not be eradicated. Dermer said that he responded, “Nazism was also an idea, and there is no Nazi state. We need to ensure that Hamas does not control territory, and that it remains merely an idea,” according to Ynet.
Gaza's "day after" and Witkoff's proposal
Asked about the day after Hamas in Gaza, Dermer responded, “We are waiting to see how Witkoff’s plan develops, we support it,” Ynet reported. Dermer reportedly added that the Trump administration “fully supports Israel, without reservations”.
Under the Biden administration, “Which did many good things for Israel,” there was “a moment when there was a small gap between Israel and the [Biden] administration. Hamas identified the gap and hoped to expand it into a schism. But under the Trump administration there is no gap,” Dermer said, according to Ynet.
The Post learned that Dermer also said, "We gave President Trump a golden beeper. A day later Vice President Vance asked for one of his own. I told him, ok, but you will only get one of silver! I made him one and he got it last week. Now there is a whole competition there to see who will get the bronze."
Dermer’s office said in response: “The quotes attributed to Minister Dermer in the article are almost entirely distorted and inaccurate, or were not said at all. It is regrettable that the reporter did not approach us as customary before publishing quotes from a closed conversation.”