TEL AVIV, Nov 16: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Sunday to oppose any move toward establishing a Palestinian state, reaffirming his long-held stance ahead of a UN Security Council vote on a revised US resolution that leaves open the possibility of Palestinian independence.
The US, under pressure from countries expected to contribute troops to a proposed international stabilisation force in Gaza, strengthened the resolution’s language on Palestinian self-determination, saying Trump’s plan could offer a “credible pathway” to statehood.
A competing Russian draft goes further in endorsing Palestinian statehood.
Netanyahu, under pressure from his far-right coalition partners, insisted Israel’s position “has not changed one bit,” saying he has resisted such moves for decades and will not bow to international pressure.
He also highlighted Trump’s terms requiring a demilitarised Gaza and Hamas disarmament.
Netanyahu downplayed rising settler violence in the West Bank as the work of a few extremists.
Palestinians and rights groups dispute this, saying violence is widespread. Over the past two weeks, seven Palestinians, including six teenagers, have been killed by Israeli fire amid escalating clashes and more than 260 settler attacks recorded in October. (AP)
