Israel Responds: ‘There is neither a Palestinian state nor people’

Israeli ministers delivered scathing rebuttals to the announcements by Britain, Canada, and Australia that they now recognize a Palestinian state.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded: “The days of the British mandate are over. The only response to this anti-Israeli step is sovereignty over the homeland of the Jewish people in Judea and Samaria and the removal of the delusional idea of a Palestinian state from the agenda forever. Mr. Prime Minister, this is the time, and it is in your hands.”

The Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has declared that he will propose applying sovereignty to Judea and Samaria at the next Cabinet meeting. The leaders of the Yesha council have already convened an emergency meeting in response to the declarations.

Minister Yitzchak Wasserlauf (Otzma Yehudit) denounced the declarations: “The Land of Israel belongs exclusively to the people of Israel. There is neither a Palestinian state nor people.”

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz cautioned: “Recognition of a Palestinian state after the seventh of October strengthens Hamas and the entire Iranian axis, prolongs the war, reduces the chance of returning the hostages.”

Former MK Gadi Eizenkot stated: “The preoccupation with a Palestinian state at this time and after the October 7th massacre is folly, and a reward for terror. The fact that at a time when our captives are languishing in Hamas tunnels, the world is preoccupied with this folly, is the result of a resounding diplomatic failure of the government and Netanyahu, who failed to translate military successes in a just war, which has become a diplomatic debacle.”

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared, “Keir Starmer will not make the rules for us. All of Israel opposes a Palestinian state.”

Democrats leader Yair Golan said that a Palestinian state could work in Israel’s favor: “Unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state is a major diplomatic failure of Netanyahu and Smotrich – a destructive move for the security of Israel. This is a direct product of Netanyahu’s political dereliction: refusal to end the war and the dangerous choice of occupation and annexation. The issue of a demilitarized Palestinian state can and should be part of a broad regional settlement that Israel is leading and that guarantees our security interests – this is what we will do when we replace this dangerous government.”

Israel’s New York consul-general Ofir Akunis warned: “To the weak leaders who support terror and a “Palestinian State”: We will remember you just like we remember Chamberlain’s actions in the 30s.”