Netanyahu rejects UK, Canada, Australia’s recognition of Palestinian state

 

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister, has condemned the decision by the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia to formally recognise a Palestinian state.

In a statement on Sunday, Netanyahu described the move as “rewarding terror with an enormous prize”.

He vowed that Israel would not allow the creation of a Palestinian state in west of the Jordan River, insisting that such a development would threaten Israel’s security.

“I have a clear message to those leaders who are recognising a Palestinian state after the horrendous October 7 massacre: you are rewarding terror with an enormous prize,” Netanyahu said.

“It’s not going to happen. There will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River.”

The prime minister, who is currently visiting the United States, said he had resisted “tremendous pressure, both domestic and from abroad” to accept Palestinian statehood.

He added that his government had doubled the number of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank — referred to by Israel as Judea and Samaria — and would continue to expand them.

Netanyahu said Israel’s official response to the recognition would be delivered when he returns from his US trip.

The Israeli prime minister stressed that his government remained committed to blocking “any attempt to force upon us a terror state in the heart of our land”.