Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the prospect of Palestinian statehood, instead suggesting that Palestinians establish a state in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to Israeli media on Thursday, Netanyahu rejected the two-state solution, calling a Palestinian state a “security threat” to Israel.
Netanyahu, who faces arrest warrants over war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Gaza, directly dismissed Palestinian claims to their homeland.
“The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there,” he said.
“After October 7? Do you know what that is? There was a Palestinian state, it was called Gaza. Gaza, led by Hamas, was a Palestinian state, and look what we got,” he added.
The comments come amid Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, DC, where he appeared alongside former US President Donald Trump who unveiled a controversial plan to “take over” Gaza and displace millions of Palestinians.
The plan to ethnically cleanse the strip, widely condemned by international leaders and legal experts, included the expulsion of Palestinians to neighbouring countries under the premise of reconstruction.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu remains optimistic about the possibility of normalising relations with Saudi Arabia, claiming an agreement was “imminent”.
“I think peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not only feasible, I think it’s going to happen,” he claimed.
However, Saudi Arabia quickly rebuffed Netanyahu’s comments in a foreign ministry statement issued shortly after the interview reiterating that normalisation with Israel would only be possible if an independent Palestinian state was established with East Jerusalem as its capital.
“His Royal Highness emphasised that Saudi Arabia’s stance on Palestinian statehood remains firm and unwavering,” the statement said.
