Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu rejects calls for "permanent settlement with Palestinians"

Benjamin Netanyahu. Pic/AFP

Soon after speaking with the United States of America's President Joe Biden after the cabinet security meeting, the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Friday rejected a plan for international recognition of a Palestinian state and international dictates regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians.

"At the cabinet meeting, I clarified my position regarding the recent talk of imposing a Palestinian state on Israel. My position is summed up in the following two sentences. Israel outright rejects international dictates regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians," he wrote on X.

Additionally, Netanyahu said, "Such an arrangement will be reached only through direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions." Secondly, he said, "Israel will continue to oppose the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state."

Netanyahu added that this would give a huge reward to unprecedented terrorism. "Such recognition in the wake of the October 7 massacre would give a huge reward to unprecedented terrorism and prevent any future peace settlement," he stated.

Netanyahu's comments come amid growing tension between him and US President Biden over critical issues regarding the Gaza war and the hostages, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Both the leaders spoke about the situation in the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, emphasizing the need for a "credible and executable plan" for ensuring the safety and support of the civilians.

He spoke in the early hours of Friday after The Washington Post published an article the previous day about US plans with Arab allies to advance a two-state resolution to the conflict as part of a larger regional arrangement that would involve a Gaza ceasefire and Saudi normalization with Israel.

A number of European countries have also weighed unilateral Palestinian statehood recognition in light of the Israel-Hamas war.

In the call between the two leaders, the second time in less than a week, the US President also emphasised the need to ensure humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza and secure the release of all hostages in Hamas captivity.

There is rising international pressure on Israel. On February 14, the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand- all allies of the US in a joint statement called for a permanent ceasefire and urged Hamas to lay down its arms and release all hostages immediately. (With inputs from agencies)