Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel remains firmly opposed to the establishment of a Palestinian state, responding to growing pressure from far right members of his governing coalition. The announcement came after protests erupted among his political allies following the release of a United States backed statement that appeared to support a pathway to Palestinian independence.
Netanyahu’s remarks came two days after the United States and a group of Muslim majority nations endorsed a draft United Nations resolution supporting former president Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. The draft includes language suggesting that the proposal could eventually lead to Palestinian statehood if certain conditions are met. The fifteen member United Nations Security Council began negotiations on the text on November seven. The document outlines the creation of a Board of Peace, a transitional governing body for Gaza intended to oversee reconstruction, economic recovery and security arrangements after the war.
The mention of a potential future Palestinian state triggered immediate anger among Israeli far right leaders, who oppose any reference to Palestinian self determination. The political tension adds new strain to Netanyahu’s already fragile coalition, which includes conservative and ultra nationalist parties. Some ministers argued that the draft resolution undermines Israel’s long standing position and could weaken its negotiating leverage.
At the same time, violence continued on the ground. According to reports by Al Jazeera, Israeli forces killed four Palestinians on Sunday, three in Gaza and one in the West Bank city of Nablus. The deaths occurred as military operations in both territories continued despite the fragile ceasefire that has reduced but not halted clashes.
The current plan advanced by Trump includes a twenty point framework that outlines a pathway to Palestinian self determination if the Palestinian Authority carries out reforms. This clause angered influential far right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, both of whom demanded that Netanyahu publicly reject any mention of a Palestinian state. Ben Gvir went as far as threatening to withdraw his party from the ruling coalition if Netanyahu failed to respond.
Faced with mounting pressure, Netanyahu issued a firm statement on Sunday. He declared that Israel’s position had not changed and that the government opposes the creation of a Palestinian state in any territory. Netanyahu added that Gaza will be demilitarised and Hamas disarmed, insisting that he does not need lectures or affirmations from others to guide Israeli policy.
Other senior officials echoed the prime minister’s stance. Defence Minister Israel Katz and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar released statements on X, affirming their opposition to Palestinian statehood without explicitly mentioning Netanyahu.
The political tensions highlight deep divisions within Israel’s leadership at a time when the country is still grappling with the aftermath of two years of war in Gaza. Local health authorities say more than sixty nine thousand Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began.
