Netanyahu Delays Discussion of Bill to Cancel Oslo Agreement

SadaNews - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed on Sunday the discussion of a bill to cancel the Oslo Agreement signed with the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1993, according to the "Israel Hayom" newspaper.

The newspaper stated that the bill, presented by Knesset member Limor Son Har-Melech from the "Otzma Yehudit" party, was scheduled to be discussed on Sunday in the ministerial committee for legislative affairs, but Netanyahu requested to postpone the discussion.

The Oslo Agreement is officially known as the "Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements" and was signed by the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel in Washington on September 13, 1993, serving as a precursor to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The agreement was signed in the presence of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and under the auspices of former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

"Israel Hayom" explained that during a meeting of the ministerial committee held on Sunday morning via Zoom, ministers began discussing the principles of the bill to cancel the Oslo Agreement, but Netanyahu requested to postpone the discussion to another time.

According to the newspaper, Israeli National Security Council Head Gil Reich said during the meeting: "We request the postponement for a thorough study by the working team."

Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin supported the idea of postponement but emphasized that this was not a principled objection to the bill, saying: "In the end, there is a Prime Minister who is informed about matters I am not informed about. The discussion is postponed until the Prime Minister's approval."

Levin added that he intends to promote the law in the future, stating: "I am very happy to promote the law. Just as we returned to the (settlement) of Sanur (in the northern West Bank), we will return to other places."

During the era of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, following a series of military losses, Israel withdrew from settlements in the Gaza Strip and others in the West Bank, including "Sanur" in 2005, as part of a unilateral plan known at the time as the "disengagement plan" or "unilateral withdrawal," before Israeli authorities returned settlers to the settlement in April 2026.

For his part, Israeli Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fox said in the committee meeting: "We must recognize that cooperation with the Americans is essential" regarding such a law.

Extreme National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir remarked: "My opinion, as I mentioned earlier, is that we have a rare opportunity agreed upon by most coalition members," according to "Israel Hayom."

Ben Gvir added: "Everyone understands the folly of the Oslo Agreement," claiming that "the Palestinian Authority supports terrorism and calls for it."

He continued: "We made changes, but more can be done. It is better to push further, and I think this is an opportunity," as stated in the newspaper.

On Saturday, Israeli Knesset member Har Melech wrote on her account on the American platform "X": "We promised to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, and now it is time to encourage settlement in areas (A) and (B) and cancel the infamous Oslo Agreements," in her words.

She added: "Tomorrow (Sunday), in the meeting of the ministerial committee for legislative affairs, my bill to cancel this agreement will be presented. This is a first and necessary step on the road to correcting the entire situation."

According to "Oslo II" signed in 1995, the West Bank is divided into three areas: "A," "B," and "C." Area "A" is under complete Palestinian control, "B" is under Palestinian civil control with Israeli security control, while "C" is under complete Israeli control, making up about 60 percent of the West Bank's area.