Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his firm opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state, saying his position has “not changed one bit” despite growing international pressure.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday (November 16), Netanyahu said he had long rejected any plan to create a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River and would continue to do so.
“Our opposition to a Palestinian state in any territory west of the Jordan River… is valid and has not changed one bit,” Netanyahu said. “I have been rebuffing these attempts for decades, against pressure from outside and within. I do not need affirmations, tweets, or lectures from anyone.”
Tensions Within the Coalition
Netanyahu’s remarks came after far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich urged him to publicly denounce Palestinian statehood, following a U.S.-backed statement that appeared to support a pathway toward it. The statement, endorsed by the U.S. and several Muslim-majority countries, supported a draft U.N. resolution aligned with President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which includes the possibility of Palestinian sovereignty under specific conditions.
The issue of Palestinian statehood has long been a dividing line within Israel’s government, particularly among Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition partners, who view any such move as a threat to national security.
Pledge to Disarm Hamas
Netanyahu also addressed the ongoing situation in Gaza, reaffirming his commitment to ensuring the territory remains demilitarised and that Hamas is disarmed.
“The issue of the alleged ‘non-demilitarisation’ of the part of Gaza that is in the hands of Hamas — there will be no such thing,” Netanyahu said. “This territory will be demilitarised, and Hamas will be disarmed. Either this will happen the easy way or the hard way.”
He cited former U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance as being consistent with Israel’s position, underscoring that any post-conflict arrangement in Gaza must guarantee that Hamas no longer poses a military threat.
Crackdown on Settler Violence
The prime minister also condemned recent violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank, promising decisive action.
“These riots, both against Palestinians and against IDF soldiers, will be dealt with full force because we are a state of law,” he said. “A minority that engages in this violence does not represent the large public of settlers who are law-abiding and loyal to the state.”
The remarks come amid a spike in settler violence during the olive harvest season, which has further strained relations in the West Bank.
A Balancing Act
Netanyahu’s statements highlight the delicate balance his government faces between domestic political pressures and international expectations. While his far-right coalition demands a harder line against Palestinians, international partners — including the U.S. — continue to push for a diplomatic framework that could eventually lead to a two-state solution.
As tensions persist in both Gaza and the West Bank, Netanyahu’s reaffirmation of long-standing policies signals that Israel’s position on Palestinian statehood and security remains unchanged, even as global and regional pressures intensify.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said. ...
A Russian couple climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurled a banner urging world peace before, in an apparent elaborate marriage p...
On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit....
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway this week in a landmark tour of the Nordic region that reflects Beiji...
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both...
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said.
A Russian couple climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurled a banner urging world peace before, in an apparent elaborate marriage proposal that ended with their arrests.
On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway this week in a landmark tour of the Nordic region that reflects Beijing's efforts to strengthen ties with Europe at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said.
Mexico ended their 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout win, while Erling Haaland sent Norway through and Kylian Mbappé fired France into the last 16.
The wife and children of Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo were among around 1,700 people who died when two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela last week.
The latest AnewZ investigative documentary examines how Emmanuel Macron’s promise to break with France’s old political habits collided with diplomatic setbacks in Africa and legal fallout surrounding figures once close to the Élysée.
A Russian couple climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurled a banner urging world peace before, in an apparent elaborate marriage proposal that ended with their arrests.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway this week in a landmark tour of the Nordic region that reflects Beijing's efforts to strengthen ties with Europe at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty.
South African police arrested more than 900 people during nationwide anti-migrant protests on Tuesday (30 June), as demonstrations across the country turned violent in some areas, although most remained peaceful.
German prosecutors have arrested a German-Rwandan national on suspicion of aiding genocide and 25 counts of murder during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, authorities said on Wednesday (1 July).
At least five people have died after a fire swept through a 10-storey apartment building in the Belgian city of Antwerp, authorities said on Wednesday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment