Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his government’s opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state, following protests from far-right coalition allies. This comes in response to a recent statement backed by the United States and several Muslim-majority nations, which supports a pathway to Palestinian independence.
On November 7, the UN Security Council began negotiations on a draft resolution endorsing President Donald Trump‘s Gaza peace plan, which calls for the formation of a “Board of Peace” transitional administration in Gaza. The plan aims to tackle critical issues such as post-war reconstruction and economic recovery. Within the 20-point proposal, there is a clause suggesting that reforms within the Palestinian Authority could pave the way for Palestinian self-determination and statehood, a notion that has inflamed Israeli far-right leaders.
The backlash from these leaders, particularly from ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, intensified after Netanyahu’s remarks. They demanded that he publicly reject the concept of a Palestinian state, with Ben-Gvir threatening to exit the governing coalition if the Prime Minister did not comply. Netanyahu responded on Sunday, stating, “Our opposition to a Palestinian state in any territory has not changed. Gaza will be demilitarised and Hamas will be disarmed, the easy way or the hard way.”
A potential walkout by the far-right could destabilise Netanyahu’s right-wing government, which faces elections by October 2026. Both Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar voiced their opposition to a Palestinian state on social media without directly referencing Netanyahu, indicating a growing divide within the coalition.
Netanyahu had previously endorsed Trump’s plan during a visit to the White House in September but had not issued any new statements regarding Palestinian statehood until recently. He faced criticism from Smotrich, who accused him of failing to act on previous promises. “Two months have passed in which you have chosen silence and political disgrace,” Smotrich said, urging Netanyahu to clarify that “a Palestinian state will never arise on the lands of our homeland.”
The ongoing conflict has had devastating human costs. Over the past two years, intense military actions in the Gaza Strip have resulted in more than 69,000 deaths, according to local health authorities. The conflict escalated following a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli casualties. A ceasefire, enacted on October 10, has intermittently held, though violence has persisted sporadically since.
Netanyahu’s firm stance reflects the complex dynamics within his coalition and the broader geopolitical landscape in the region. As tensions rise, the future of peace negotiations remains uncertain, with both domestic and international implications.
