israel-stands-firm-on-opposition-to-palestinian-statehood

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly denied reports suggesting that Israel had agreed to a path towards Palestinian statehood in its negotiations with Saudi Arabia for normalising relations.

 

Netanyahu’s office issued a statement on Tuesday, asserting that the Israeli leader remains opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state, describing the reports as "completely false." The statement further emphasised that such a move would threaten Israel’s security.

 

Earlier, Israeli media had reported that as part of the ongoing talks for normalising ties with Saudi Arabia, Israel might make concessions regarding Palestinian statehood. However, both Israel and Saudi Arabia swiftly rejected these claims.

 

Saudi officials also strongly refuted the reports, stating that there has been no change in their long-standing support for an independent Palestinian state.

 

The Saudi statement clarified that the Kingdom remains committed to ending the war in Gaza and continues to support Palestinian efforts to establish a state.

 

The leadership in Riyadh has reiterated its stance that any resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must result in an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

 

Netanyahu, who has long viewed establishing formal relations with Saudi Arabia as a key goal for Israel’s security, dismissed the reports as misleading. This denial comes amid growing international criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in significant casualties and destruction.

 

The ongoing conflict has led to widespread condemnation, and both Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials are facing potential charges of war crimes at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

 

Netanyahu has proposed an alternative vision for Gaza's future, suggesting that countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could play a role in the region’s administration post-conflict.

 

However, many Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, have made it clear that they would only consider involvement in Gaza’s reconstruction if the Palestinian Authority (PA) is included in the process.

 

Without the PA’s participation, regional powers have repeatedly stated that they will not take part in any post-war management of Gaza.