Netanyahu Pledges No Palestinian State Amid Controversial West Bank Expansion

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said there will be no Palestinian state and approved 3,400 new homes in the E1 area of the West Bank, isolating it from East Jerusalem. The plan has been condemned by Western countries and is considered illegal under international law.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Thursday that "there will be no Palestinian state," a remark that underscores his government's firm stance on the future of the West Bank and its settlements. Netanyahu made the statement during a visit to the Maale Adumim settlement, which is located in the occupied West Bank. During this visit, he formally signed a proposal to construct thousands of new homes in the area, as part of a controversial plan to expand Israeli settlements in the region. The plan has been widely criticized by the international community for its potential impact on prospects for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

"We are going to fulfill our promise that there will be no Palestinian state; this place belongs to us," Netanyahu said during the event. He further emphasized, "We will safeguard our heritage, our land, and our security." The prime minister’s office livestreamed the event, allowing viewers to witness the signing and his remarks in real time.

The expansion project will see approximately 3,400 new homes built on a tract of land known as E1, which spans roughly 12 square kilometers, or five square miles. The development is strategically significant, as it will cut through the occupied West Bank and isolate it from East Jerusalem. Palestinians view East Jerusalem as the capital of a potential future Palestinian state, and control over this area remains one of the most sensitive issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The principle of East Jerusalem as a capital is central to the two-state solution, a framework that continues to have the support of the majority of the international community.

The project had been approved last month by Israel’s right-wing government, which has pursued an agenda of settlement expansion despite widespread international criticism. Several Western governments, including Germany, have strongly condemned the plans, warning that the development could undermine peace efforts and violate international law.

The E1 settlement project had been stalled for many years due to intense opposition from the international community. Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, are considered illegal under international law, a designation supported by the United Nations and most countries worldwide. The expansion plans therefore continue to provoke controversy and remain a focal point of tension in the region, highlighting the ongoing challenges to achieving a negotiated solution between Israelis and Palestinians.