Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a strong rejection of recent moves by Western nations to recognise a Palestinian state.
His statement came on Sunday, just hours after the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada formally announced their support for Palestinian statehood.
Netanyahu, in a sharp message directed at the three nations, declared that such recognition amounted to rewarding terrorism.
He linked his warning to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which triggered Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
“I have a clear message for those leaders who recognise a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre on October 7: you are granting a huge reward to terror,” Netanyahu said.
“And I have another message for you: it will not happen. No Palestinian state will be established west of the Jordan River.”
The Israeli leader also pledged to intensify Jewish settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, a move likely to further inflame tensions with the international community.
“For years, I have prevented the creation of this terror state despite enormous pressure both domestically and internationally,” Netanyahu stated.
“We have done so with determination and political wisdom.
Moreover, we have doubled Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, and we will continue on this path.”
His comments followed what many analysts have described as a historic shift in Western foreign policy.
The UK and Canada became the first G7 countries to formally back Palestinian statehood, with Portugal expected to follow suit at the UN General Assembly.
The recognition has been hailed as a “watershed moment” for Palestinians, but condemned by Israel as a threat to its security and sovereignty.
Netanyahu’s vow signals that Israel intends to stand firmly against the mounting diplomatic pressure.
The recognition of Palestine by Western powers has already fueled intense debates at the global stage, particularly ahead of the UN’s high-level sessions in New York.
For Palestinians, the latest recognition by powerful nations strengthens their decades-long quest for independence and sovereignty.
But for Netanyahu, it represents what he sees as a dangerous legitimisation of groups Israel labels as terrorist organisations.
The clash of positions sets the stage for more heated confrontations at the UN, where Israel is preparing to defend its stance against what Netanyahu has branded as “an absurd reward for terrorism.”
