Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said that "there is no connection between Israelis and the Jews," descendants of Jacob, rather they are the "Khazar Jews" who converted to Judaism in the sixth century CE. He made these remarks in a public address that was aired on Palestine TV on June 29, 2021. Shtayyeh continued to say that Israel "constitutes a function rather than a state." He continued to claim that this is what was said and desired by Oliver Cromwell, Napoleon Bonaparte, the American consul in Jerusalem, and Balfour.
Mohammad Shtayyeh: "It is important from where we begin the war of narratives. The Hebrews, the Jews, and the Israelis are not the same thing.
[...]
"Furthermore, the Israelis... Israel is Jacob. The Israelites are the sons of Jacob. 1,300 years separated between Jacob and Prophet Moses. Therefore, 1,300 years separated between the Israelis and Judaism. So there is no connection between the Israelis and the Jews.
[...]
"The other key to the research is the Jews of today. Who are they? Without going into detail – they are the Khazar Jews, who converted to Judaism in the sixth century CE. This issue requires research. There are many sources and books about the Khazar Jews. Now I would like to say something important. Today, Israel – as a Zionist enterprise – constitutes a function rather than a state. Focus on this sentence: It constitutes a function rather than a state. A 'function state'... This is what was said and desired by Oliver Cromwell in 1652, by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799, by the American consul in Jerusalem, and by Balfour. What did Herzl write to Balfour? He said: 'Do you want us to be a function state for the protection of Britain's interests in the Middle east and in the Suez Canal? We are prepared to be a function state.'"