Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a bold statement on Thursday, asserting that “there is no Palestinian state,” as he announced plans for a new housing development that would split the area known as E1 (Jewish and Samaria) to the east of Jerusalem.
This development was greenlit by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in August, following assurances from various Western nations about recognizing a Palestinian state, despite ongoing conflicts.
The new settlement will connect Jerusalem’s eastern side to the Maare Admim community.
Reports indicate:
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has approved a new settlement project at E1, which effectively separates East Jerusalem from the West Bank.
While visiting the planned settlement site on Thursday, Smotrich stated that both Netanyahu and Donald Trump have agreed to move forward with the E1 development.
“Those aiming to recognize a Palestinian state will observe our actions, not just words or documents, but through the homes, roads, and Jewish families establishing their lives here,” Smotrich commented.
During his visit to Maare Admim to sanction the plan, Netanyahu reiterated his stance on the non-existence of a Palestinian state. The era regarding Israel’s position has shifted significantly.
“There will be no Palestinian state,” Netanyahu declared at the ceremony in Maare Admim. He previously promised the possibility of such a state in a notable 2009 speech and tentatively accepted the idea as part of Trump’s “Deals of the Century” in 2020. However, supporters at the ceremony seemed confident that there would be no backing down this time.
In a statement shared by government press and translated from Hebrew, Netanyahu said:
“We maintain that there is no Palestinian state. Indeed, there isn’t! This land belongs to us. Our heritage, land, and security are at stake.”
“It’s nearly two years since a war was thrust upon us, a day marked by atrocities as we wrestled with the issue of our hostages. We aim to recover them all—both living and deceased.”
“On the second day of the war, I emphasized that we would reshape the Middle East. We aren’t just combating Hamas; we are countering the Iranian axis trying to annihilate us. Progress has been gradual. Together, we have achieved much. Not only is the government united, but our fighters are heroic, along with our fallen soldiers, as we pushed back the existential threat,” he added.
“The perseverance of Israeli citizens has led to the removal of these threats. We must finish what we started in Gaza—defeat Hamas.”
“Simultaneously, we confront other parts of the threat. Our courage and determination are critical; we are defending our land, our kids, and their future. What happens next in Israel will be shaped by the expansion at Maare Admim across all Israeli territories.”
While Israelis once broadly supported a two-state solution, enthusiasm for it has drastically decreased in the last decade following numerous conflicts initiated by Hamas against Israel.
Netanyahu had contemplated annexing the West Bank but hesitated after Arab nations indicated they might withdraw from the Abraham Accord peace agreement.
The E1 construction isn’t a step toward annexation but makes the viability of a Palestinian state increasingly unlikely.
The UN General Assembly is set to vote on a resolution later aiming to support the establishment of a Palestinian state, advocating for Palestinian governance over all of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
