Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed Thursday for New York, vowing to use his United Nations speech to denounce Western leaders who recently recognized a Palestinian state.
Speaking before boarding his plane, Netanyahu accused countries like the UK, France, Canada, and Portugal of “rewarding terrorists” instead of condemning Hamas for its violence. “There will be no Palestinian state,” he declared.
In Washington, Netanyahu will also meet with President Donald Trump to discuss the aftermath of Israel’s June war with Iran, hostages still held by Hamas, and the possibility of expanding peace with Arab states. Some in his coalition are urging annexation of the Jordan Valley as a response to international recognition of Palestine, though U.S. officials have quietly cautioned against such moves.
Netanyahu’s departure sparked protests at Ben Gurion Airport, where demonstrators demanded action to free hostages from Gaza and criticized his leadership.
Backing Netanyahu’s position, opposition leader Benny Gantz published an op-ed in The New York Times arguing that opposition to Palestinian statehood is not political but a core Israeli security consensus. He warned that international leaders underestimate Israel’s security challenges and misunderstand the reality of dealing with terror groups backed by Iran.
For Netanyahu, the UN speech will be both a rebuttal to foreign governments and a defense of Israel’s security doctrine in a shifting global landscape.
