Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday rejected the idea of creating a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu spoke in a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, calling the proposed state a future Iranian stronghold of terrorism.
“During the conversation, the Prime Minister expressed fierce opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state, and said that this will constitute a huge prize for terrorism,’’ a statement from the Israeli PM's office said.
The prime minister recalled that no Palestinian leader, including the leadership of the Palestinian Authority, has yet condemned the attack by the Hamas movement on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
“The Prime Minister told the President of France that a Palestinian state will be established just a few minutes from Israeli cities and will become an Iranian stronghold of terrorism,”; he added.
Macron last week said that his country might recognise the state of Palestine in June.
The French leader said France, alongside Saudi Arabia intends to hold a peace conference on the Gaza Strip in June to “finalise this movement of recognition.
It will be recalled that in July 2024, Israeli parliament approved by a majority vote a declaration against the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank.
According to the document, Israel would resist attempts to unilaterally impose the creation of a Palestinian state.
