Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that a Palestinian state “will not happen,” warning of a firm Israeli response to the recent recognition of Palestinian statehood by the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.
In a video statement released on X (formerly Twitter) late Thursday, Netanyahu accused the Western nations of rewarding terror following the October 7 massacre.
“I have a clear message to those leaders who recognize a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre on October 7, you are handing a huge reward to terror,” Netanyahu said.
“It will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan.”
The prime minister added that Israel’s official response will come after his return from the United States next week, urging the public to “wait” for the government’s next steps.
Netanyahu stated his record of expanding Jewish presence in the West Bank, known in Israel as Judea and Samaria, saying his leadership has “doubled Jewish settlement” in the disputed territory and pledging to continue the expansion.
Members of Netanyahu’s governing coalition have been openly calling for the annexation of parts of the West Bank, including the strategic Jordan Valley, in direct defiance of international efforts to advance a two-state solution.
Netanyahu rejects Palestinian statehood, promises Israeli response to western recognition