Independent Palestinian State? Not Under My Watch, Israel PM Netanyahu Vows
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that no Palestinian state under what he described as Iranian control will be established in Gaza or the West Bank for as long as he remains in office.
Netanyahu made the remarks in a series of posts on X on Saturday and Sunday, as he stepped up his campaign against political opponents ahead of Israel’s October 27 election.
“As long as I am Prime Minister, no Palestinian state controlled by Iran will arise: not in Gaza, and not in Judea and Samaria. Period,” Netanyahu wrote.
The Israeli Prime Minister also accused opposition politicians of seeking to form a governing coalition with Arab political forces, which he portrayed as a threat to Israel’s security and his government’s position on Palestinian statehood.
“The price of a left-wing coalition with the Muslim Brotherhood has been exposed once again,” Netanyahu said.
He criticised opposition figures including Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman and Yair Golan, alleging that they could rely on support from Arab political figures and parties to form a government.
In a separate post, Netanyahu claimed his political rivals would establish a Palestinian state if they succeeded in forming the next government.
“The truth they’re trying to hide is revealed time and again,” he wrote, urging voters to support his Likud party.
Netanyahu reiterated the warning on Sunday, again linking Eisenkot and Golan with Mansour Abbas, and arguing that their potential cooperation could lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“When you meet reality. Even Eizenkot knows he has no government without Yair Golan and Abbas, who will establish a Palestinian state – it must not be allowed to happen,” Netanyahu posted.
The remarks came as Eisenkot, a prominent opposition figure and chairman of the Yashar party, explores possible coalition arrangements ahead of the October 27 election.
Recent reports have focused on the possibility of an opposition-led government that could depend on Arab lawmakers or political parties, according to The Times of Israel.
Netanyahu’s comments combine his longstanding opposition to Palestinian statehood with a campaign message aimed at consolidating support for Likud, as he seeks to portray his political rivals as a potential threat to Israel’s position on the issue.
