December 18, Jerusalem Rejecting rumours that israel had agreed to a "path towards Palestinian statehood" as part of attempts to normalise relations with saudi arabia, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised that he would not allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
"Prime minister Netanyahu has acted and continues to act against the establishment of a Palestinian state," his office described the reports as "completely false" in a statement released on Tuesday.
"Endanger Israel's security" is another remark that said as much.According to Xinhua news agency, Israeli media had previously stated that current talks for a normalisation accord with saudi arabia were considering a concession on Palestinian statehood.
The Saudis, meanwhile, vehemently dispute the allegations, claiming no progress has been made.
An unidentified Saudi official told reporters, "The idea that the kingdom's leadership has changed its long-standing commitment to the creation of an independent Palestinian state in any way is equally ludicrous.""The Kingdom of saudi arabia will continue to work towards ending the war in Gaza and helping the Palestinian people achieve their right to an independent state," said the statement.
The reports were rejected by Netanyahu, who has long considered official relations with the kingdom to be a major strategic goal.
During the 1967 Middle east conflict, israel took control of the Gaza Strip, east Jerusalem, and the West Bank. In such areas, Palestinians want to create an independent state.
Netanyahu's remarks coincide with growing international censure of Israel's october military incursion in Gaza.The international Criminal court in The Hague has accused Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials of war crimes in connection with the offensive, which has sparked widespread condemnation.
Instead, Netanyahu has suggested that Arab nations like saudi arabia and the United Arab Emirates could help run Gaza after the conflict. Nonetheless, those nations and others in the area have stated time and again that they will not participate in Gaza's post-war administration or reconstruction without the PA's (Palestinian Authority) participation.
If a workable alternative to Hamas governance, like the PA, is not developed, the terror group will be able to fill the voids left by IDF operations in Gaza, the US and Israel's security establishment have warned.
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