Israeli PM Netanyahu’s controversial settlement expansion plan reignites global debate over the future of a Palestinian state. Image: The Guardian.
(The Post News)– Palestinian State discussions have once again taken center stage as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a bold and defiant declaration that “there will never be a Palestinian state.” The statement came on Thursday during a visit to the Maale Adumim settlement in the occupied West Bank, where Netanyahu signed an agreement to advance a long-stalled settlement expansion project.
Netanyahu Statement Comes After Approval of E1
Netanyahu’s statement followed the final approval of the E1 project by Israel’s Defence Ministry planning commission. The E1 project is designed to connect Maale Adumim with Jerusalem through thousands of new housing units, a move that would effectively bisect the West Bank. Critics argue that this expansion would undermine the possibility of a two-state solution, cutting Palestinians off from East Jerusalem, the capital they claim for their future state.
Netanyahu, joined by nationalist coalition members including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, reiterated Israel’s position: “We will safeguard our heritage, our land, and our security.” Smotrich previously stated that a Palestinian state “is being erased from the table, not with slogans but with actions.”
Global Reactions and Rising Tensions
The move comes just days after an Israeli attempt to target Hamas leaders in Qatar, which was widely condemned. Analysts warn that this decision could further isolate Israel from key Western allies, several of whom have already signaled that they may recognize a Palestinian state during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session.
International opposition to the E1 project has been strong. Western capitals, including Washington and Brussels, have called the settlements illegal under international law and a major obstacle to peace. Human rights groups argue that Israel’s actions are escalating tensions and destroying hopes for a two-state solution.
Despite mounting pressure, Netanyahu’s government is moving forward with nearly $1 billion in investments for new roads, infrastructure, and housing projects in the area. The two-state solution, long seen as the cornerstone of peace talks, now appears to be in jeopardy.
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