Netanyahu declares there will never be a Palestinian state

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his stance against the creation of a Palestinian state, unveiling plans to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that critics argue will make the possibility of a future Palestinian state virtually unfeasible.

On Thursday (September 11), Netanyahu signed an agreement for the East 1 (E-One) project, which will build at least 3,400 new homes in the Ma'ale Adumim settlement near East Jerusalem.

The expansion is expected to split the West Bank, further entrenching Israeli control.

At the signing ceremony, Netanyahu declared, “There will never be a Palestinian state. This land is ours.” He vowed to double the population of the Ma'ale Adumim settlement.

The expansion has drawn widespread criticism. Palestinians view East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, and the expansion threatens to sever it from the rest of the West Bank.

International law considers all Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal, though Israel disputes this.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, called Netanyahu’s actions “a push into the abyss of darkness” and reaffirmed the need for East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state.

He also urged the international community to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, following the recognition of 149 UN member states.