Former Israeli premier criticizes Jordan's queen for calling his country an ‘apartheid’ state

By Mahmoud Barakat

ANAKRA (AA) – Israel’s former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett criticized recent remarks by Queen Rania of Jordan in an interview he gave Thursday to British journalist Piers Morgan.

Speaking to CNN on Tuesday, Rania accused Israel of being an “apartheid regime,” citing international human rights organizations that have previously accused Israel of apartheid.

Bennett commented on the remarks while speaking with Morgan, saying “she totally lied” and that such a statement “simply has nothing to do with the facts.”

The conflict in Gaza began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood – a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 8,500 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,028 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been running out of food, water, medicine and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into the enclave have carried only a fraction of what is needed.