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Netanyahu publicly opposes the US push for a Palestinian state

2024-01-19 07:40:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded to the United States by making clear that he opposes the creation of a Palestinian state once the conflict in Gaza ends.

At a news conference, Netanyahu vowed to continue the assault on Gaza until total victory, the destruction of Hamas and the return of the remaining Israeli hostages, adding that it could take many more months.

With nearly 25,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and 85% of the strip's population displaced, Israel is under intense pressure to curb its offensive and engage in meaningful talks on an end to the war.

Israel's allies, including the US, and many of its enemies have called for the two-state solution.

The hope in many quarters is that the current crisis may force the warring parties to turn to diplomacy as the only viable alternative to endless cycles of violence. But from Mr. Netanyahu's comments, his intention appears to be quite the opposite.

During Thursday's press conference, he said Israel must control the land west of the Jordan River, which would include the territory of any future Palestinian state.

"This is a necessary condition and contradicts the idea of ??(Palestinian) sovereignty. What should be done? I tell this truth to our American friends and I also stopped trying to impose a reality on us that would harm Israel's security." he said.

Netanyahu has spent most of his political career opposing Palestinian statehood, boasting just last month that he was proud to have blocked its creation, so his latest comments come as no surprise.

But the very public opposition to Washington's diplomatic push and determination to stay on the current military course show that the gap is widening with Israel's Western allies./ CNA