Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, who accused Israel of implementing a “binational state,” instead of the Palestinians’ desired “two-state solution.” Photo: Washington Institute.

JNS.org – Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah on Tuesday accused Israel of implementing a “binational state” (one-state solution) instead of the Palestinians’ desired “two-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in which Israel would hand over Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state.

Referring to terrorists killed by Israeli security forces, the PA government stated that it will continue to prioritize Israel’s return of the bodies of “Palestinian martyrs,” blasting Israel for “a crime against humanity.” Additionally, Hamdallah called the Jerusalem Municipality’s decision to set up “Jewish facilities” at the Western Wall a “blatant violation of an Islamic site.” (The Western Wall, however, is a holy site for Judaism since it contains the remains of a retaining wall erected by King Herod from the Second Jewish Temple.)

Hamdallah’s comments come after US Secretary of State John Kerry’s recent assertion at the Saban Forum conference that Israel is headed for “a one-state reality” in the absence of a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had responded to Kerry’s remarks by saying,  “I want to make it clear — Israel will not become a binational state….For there to be peace, the other side will have to decide it wants peace. Unfortunately, that is not what we are seeing. First of all, the Palestinian Authority’s incitement continues. This must stop. And I saw that the chief Palestinian negotiator (Saeb Erekat) paid a condolence visit to the family of a terrorist who tried to kill Jews. So not only did [Erekat] not condemn the attack, he expressed his condolences to [the terrorist’s family], thereby giving encouragement and support for terrorist actions.”