At the Jerusalem Post Annual Conference on Tuesday, Mossab Hassan Yousef, known as the Green Prince, provided a candid perspective on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Yousef, the son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef, defected to Israel in 1997 and served as a spy for the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) until 2007, before moving to the United States.

Yousef challenged the very concept of Palestine, questioning its identity and purpose. “What is Palestine? Is it an ethnic group? A religion? A distinct language? Do you have scripture? Are you a nation? Were you a country? None of that. So what is Palestine? What is the purpose of Palestine?” he asked rhetorically, emphasizing that the existence of Palestine inherently depends on the destruction of Israel.

Yousef expressed strong opposition to the two-state solution, arguing that a Palestinian state led by the Palestinian Authority (PA) would pose an even greater threat than Hamas. He claimed the PA orchestrates global efforts against Israel, labeling them as more dangerous due to their organized international advocacy.

Reflecting on his past, Yousef recalled meetings with Yasser Arafat, the former chairman of the PLO, where plans to attack Israeli civilians were discussed. He asserted that the PA, originating from the same ideology as Hamas, continues to perpetuate terrorism.

Yousef condemned the long history of violence against Jews by Muslims, dating back 14 centuries, and criticized Jewish denial of this history. He highlighted the pervasive anti-Jewish propaganda in Muslim communities, which he believes fuels widespread animosity towards Israel.

He warned of the global threat posed by radical Islam, urging a more robust confrontation with these ideologies. Yousef proposed several solutions, including integrating Arabs into the IDF to oversee the West Bank, involving Egyptian and Jordanian intelligence, and implementing mandatory Holocaust education across the Arab world.

Yousef concluded by cautioning against allowing the PA to govern a Palestinian state, predicting that it would lead to further demands and ultimately the destruction of Israel. He stressed the need for practical and secure solutions to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.