TEL AVIV - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday stated unequivocally that there will be no Palestinian state. He made the remarks at a ceremony to mark the expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, near Jerusalem, according to AFP and Reuters. The prime minister stressed that Israel would not allow the creation of an independent Palestine, which he said would threaten the security of the state and its citizens.
Netanyahu reiterated his position at a time when several European countries, including France and the UK, announced their intention to recognise Palestine as an independent state in September. These moves come in the wake of a long-stalled peace process and growing tensions between Israel and the Palestinians. The expansion of settlements in the West Bank is one of the most contentious points in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Under international law, the settlements are considered illegal, but Israel rejects this and describes them as a legitimate part of its historic territory. The Palestinians, on the other hand, warn that continued construction makes it virtually impossible to establish a viable state.
The planned recognition of Palestine by European states is seen as a significant diplomatic pressure on Israel. Both French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have said in recent days that support for Palestinian statehood is essential to achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. But Netanyahu stressed in a speech on Friday that Israel would not be pushed into decisions that would threaten its existence. "There will be no Palestinian state as long as I am prime minister," AFP quoted him as saying.
The international community is now preparing for the September debate at the UN, where increased pressure for recognition of Palestine is expected. Whether this move will lead to new negotiations or, on the contrary, to a further intensification of the conflict, remains unclear.
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