JERUSALEM: Israel is not going to be pressured into accepting a Palestinian state, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned on Friday (Feb 16), following a Washington Put up report that Israel’s essential ally the USA was shifting plans to determine a Palestinian state.
“Israel categorically rejects worldwide dictates concerning a everlasting settlement with the Palestinians,” mentioned Netanyahu, in a press release printed following a name with US President Joe Biden. “Israel will proceed to oppose unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.”
Netanyahu mentioned statehood can be a “big reward” within the wake of the Oct 7 Hamas-led assault on Israel, which triggered the latest war in Gaza. He mentioned such an association can solely be reached in direct negotiations between the 2 sides, although no talks have been held since 2014.
The Washington Put up reported on Thursday that the USA was working with some Arab international locations, together with Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia – with which Israel has lengthy sought to determine diplomatic ties – on a put up conflict plan for the area that would come with a agency timeline for the institution of a Palestinian state.
High Israeli ministers strongly rejected such a improvement on Thursday, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who lives in a West Financial institution settlement, saying a Palestinian state would pose “an existential menace” to Israel.
The 2-state resolution, which might create a state for the Palestinians within the occupied West Financial institution and Gaza alongside Israel, has been a core Western coverage within the area.