This weekend, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his firm opposition to Palestinian statehood, after President Joe Biden suggested that Bibi was actually open to the idea.
CNN reported that Netanyahu told Biden on Friday that he isn’t ruling out the establishment of a Palestinian state.
However Netanyahu’s spokesman claimed that in that same phone call with Biden, the Israeli leader told the president that his country’s security needs left no space for a sovereign Palestinian state.
“In his conversation with President Biden, prime minister Netanyahu reiterated his policy that, after Hamas is destroyed, Israel must retain security control over Gaza to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel, a requirement that contradicts the demand for Palestinian sovereignty,” a statement said.
On Motzei Shabbos, Netanyahu issued a statement in Hebrew, saying: “I will not compromise on full Israeli security control over all the territory west of Jordan – and this is contrary to a Palestinian state.”
Here is the full statement by PM Netanyahu:
“Let it be clear: I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas.
In exchange for the release of our hostages, Hamas demands the end of the war, the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza, the release of all the murderers and rapists of the Nuh’ba and leaving Hamas intact.
If we agree to this – our warriors fell in vain. If we agree to this – we will not be able to guarantee the security of our citizens. We will not be able to return the evacuees safely to their homes, and next October 7th will only be a matter of time. I am not ready to put up with such a fatal injury to Israel’s security, so we will not agree to it.
The conditions set by Hamas sharpen a simple truth – there is no substitute for victory. Only a complete victory will ensure the elimination of Hamas and the return of all our abductees.
That’s why I insist that after we achieve complete victory, after we eliminate Hamas – there will be no entity in Gaza that finances terrorism, educates terrorism or sends terrorism.
Gaza must be demilitarized, under full security control of the State of Israel. I will not compromise on full Israeli security control over all the territory west of Jordan.
As long as I am prime minister, I will continue to firmly stand by it. If someone has a different position, let them show leadership and state their position honestly to the citizens of Israel.”