BREAKING: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that an opposition victory in the next election could dramatically alter Israel’s policies toward Lebanon, Gaza and Syria, claiming his political rivals would withdraw from key areas and pave the way for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“If the opposition defeats me in the election, they will leave Lebanon, they will leave Gaza, they will leave Syria, and they will establish a Palestinian state here,” Netanyahu said.
He argued that such a state would not stand alone but would be backed by major powers, warning that it could mark “the beginning of Israel’s destruction.”
Netanyahu also addressed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s repeated calls for his removal from power, claiming Erdoğan understands that Israel would strike back against threats and therefore wants him out of office.
“Erdoğan repeatedly says, ‘Netanyahu must fall.’ He understands that we will strike back, and he would like me to leave,” Netanyahu said.
Reiterating his long-standing opposition to Palestinian statehood, Netanyahu declared that Israel would “never agree” to the establishment of a Palestinian state. He also pointed to the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as evidence of his government’s policy.
“We will never agree to a Palestinian state. We have expanded settlement construction in the West Bank,” Netanyahu said.
The remarks underline Netanyahu’s hard-line position on Palestinian statehood and come amid continued regional tensions involving Israel, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.