JERUSALEM: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to expand Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank after Britain, Canada and Australia recognized a Palestinian state.
"For years, I have prevented the creation of this terror state despite enormous pressure both domestically and internationally," he said in a statement.
"We have done so with determination and political wisdom. Moreover, we have doubled Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria and we will continue on this path," he said using the Biblical name for the West Bank.
Netanyahu on Sunday accused foreign leaders of giving a “prize” to Hamas.
He put out an angry statement after Britain and other Western allies said they were unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian state in a step seen as a show of displeasure with Israel.
Netanyahu added: “A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.”
Netanyahu said he would announce Israel’s response after a trip to the US, where he is to meet President Donald Trump at the White House.
He is set to give a speech to the General Assembly on Friday before heading to see Trump.
The UK has for decades supported an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, but insisted recognition must come as part of a peace plan to achieve a two-state solution.
However, the government has become increasingly worried that such a solution is becoming all but impossible – and not only because of the razing of Gaza and displacement of most of its population during nearly two years of conflict, which has seen more than 65,000 people killed in Gaza, displaced around 90 percent of the population and caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
BACKGROUND
Last week, independent experts commissioned by the UN’s Human Rights Council concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Last week, independent experts commissioned by the UN’s Human Rights Council concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Also vexing the UK is Israel’s government has been aggressively expanding settlements in the West Bank, land Palestinians want for their future state.
Much of the world regards Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, which is ostensibly run by the Palestinian Authority, as illegal.
“This move has symbolic and historic weight, makes clear the U.K.’s concerns about the survival of a two-state solution, and is intended to keep that goal relevant and alive,” said Olivia O’Sullivan, director of the UK in the World Programme at the London-based think tank, Chatham House.
For the Palestinians, President Mahmoud Abbas stressed that Sunday’s moves constituted an important and necessary step toward achieving a just peace in accordance with international law.
Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian head of mission in the UK, said that recognition would right a colonial-era wrong.
“The issue today is ending the denial of our existence that started 108 years ago, in 1917,” he said.
“And I think today, the British people should celebrate a day when history is being corrected, when wrongs are being righted, when recognition of the wrongs of the past are beginning to be corrected.”
A senior Hamas official hailed Britain, Canada and Australia's recognition of a Palestinian state, describing it as a victory for the rights of Palestinians.
"These developments represent a victory for Palestinian rights and the justice of our cause, and send a clear message: no matter how far the occupation goes in its crimes, it will never be able to erase our national rights," Mahmoud Mardawi said
