Israeli-USA conflict over Palestinian state

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly rejected an effort of the United States to establish a Palestinian state.

Israel's allies, including the US - and many of its foes - have urged a revival of the long-dormant ‘two-state solution’, in which a future Palestinian state would sit side-by-side with an Israeli one.

Benjamin Netanyahu said he has told the United States that he opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state once the conflict in Gaza comes to an end.

In a news conference, a defiant Netanyahu vowed to press on with the offensive in Gaza ‘until complete victory’: the destruction of Hamas and return of the remaining Israeli hostages, adding that it could take ‘many more months’.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Netanyahu said Israel must have security control over all land west of the River Jordan, which would include the territory of any future Palestinian state.

“This is a necessary condition, and it conflicts with the idea of (Palestinian) sovereignty. What to do? I tell this truth to our American friends, and I also stopped the attempt to impose a reality on us that would harm Israel's security,” he said.