The PM insisted that he would not allow the creation of an official settlement, as it poses a danger to Israel
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated this Sunday Israel's historic stance regarding the creation of a Palestinian state and his firm commitment to the total demilitarization of Hamas, during the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting.
The meeting included an exchange with the ministers on the Palestinian state issue, and featured the participation of Ron Dermer, who attended despite his recent resignation as Minister of Strategic Affairs.
Netanyahu's statements come at a time when various political figures—including right-wing and far-right legislators—have demanded clarity regarding the government's position on a possible recognition of the Palestinian state.
Netanyahu, however, insisted on the continuity of Israeli policy, making it clear that this is not a shift nor a new debate, but rather a line maintained for decades.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the cabinet meeting
"A solution that includes a Palestinian state, in any territory west of the Jordan River, is something we've firmly and consistently opposed," the prime minister stated.
"I've resisted those attempts for decades, facing both internal and external pressures. I don't need reinforcements, tweets, or sermons from anyone."
Netanyahu also emphasized that there will be no room for ambiguity regarding the situation in Gaza: the strip will be completely demilitarized and Hamas will be dismantled. He stressed that in areas where the terrorist organization still keeps a presence, "there will be no such thing as a lack of demilitarization."
He also recalled that in his 20-point plan—and in any framework considered by the government—Gaza will follow a clear path: "The area will be demilitarized and Hamas will be eliminated, one way or another." According to Netanyahu, this vision has the explicit support of United States President Donald Trump.
The prime minister's words were delivered in an international context that has seen multiple recent references to the idea of a Palestinian state.
On Friday, United States, Qatar, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan, and Türkiye issued a joint statement supporting a U.S. draft at the UN Security Council, which proposes a "pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood."
Additionally, a Security Council draft resolution, presented on Thursday, explicitly mentioned the possibility of a Palestinian state within the framework of the future International Security Force that would be responsible for governance in Gaza.
Despite these initiatives, Israel's stance remains unchanged: without a radical change in the security reality—including the elimination of Hamas and the total demilitarization of the strip—Israel considers any progress toward Palestinian state structures unfeasible.
By reaffirming his position, Netanyahu sought to make it clear that the immediate priority is to guarantee the long-term security of the State of Israel, even in the face of growing international diplomatic pressures.
