Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday reaffirmed that Israel would not accept the creation of a Palestinian state, issuing a public rejection as pressure mounted from far-right coalition partners over a US backed UN draft resolution that suggests a path toward Palestinian independence.Netanyahu, responding to days of demands from ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, said, “Our opposition to a Palestinian state in any territory has not changed. Gaza will be demilitarised and Hamas will be disarmed, the easy way or the hard way.” Ben-Gvir had warned he would quit the coalition if Netanyahu did not issue a clear statement, while Smotrich accused the prime minister of breaking his promises and choosing “silence and political disgrace” for two months.
The far-right leaders have insisted that Netanyahu publicly rule out any international effort that may lead to Palestinian statehood, with Smotrich urging him to tell world powers that “a Palestinian state will never arise on the lands of our homeland.”Netanyahu had previously endorsed Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan during his White House visit in September, but had not addressed Palestinian statehood since then. His latest comments come as the 15-member UN Security Council continues negotiations on a draft resolution introduced on November 7, which outlines a “Board of Peace” transitional administration in Gaza focused on reconstruction and economic recovery.The US plan notes that if reforms are undertaken within the Palestinian Authority, “the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood”.(With inputs from Reuters)
